BEIJING -- Pork prices in China went up last month as demand exceeded supply, official data showed.

The average pork price index in 16 provincial-level regions tracked by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs was 45.62 yuan (about $7.1) per kg in January, up 6.1 percent month on month.

The price index dropped 3.8 percent compared with the same period last year, widening by 0.9 percentage points from the previous month.

The Chinese government took a series of measures last year to boost pork supply, including releasing frozen pork reserves and increasing imports.

To soften the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, China ramped up financial support, including subsidies and loans, to major pig-producing counties to restore production.