BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China’s coronavirus outbreak has delayed the launch of new pig breeding facilities and put even more pressure on pork supplies and prices, an official with the agriculture ministry told a briefing on Sunday.

Kong Liang, deputy director at the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said new projects had been disrupted, and regional blockades designed to prevent the spread of the epidemic had impacted supplies in some region, pushing up prices.

China’s pork supplies have already been reduced as a result of an African swine fever outbreak. It is currently aiming to raise imports to alleviate shortages.