Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 10/11/13

Newly merged executives Smithfield CEO C. Larry Pope and Shuanghui International Chairman Wan Long talked about expanding exports of U.S. pork produced without ractopamine to China and using Smithfield’s food processing technology in China at a news conference in Hong Kong this week.

"Our top priority now is to expand the trading of Smithfield and to expand the export market," China Daily reported Wan saying. "There's a huge potential for the export of US pork to outside of the United States."

Pope added that while Smithfield's exports to China have been mostly offal, the company would boost exports of higher-priced cuts of meat.

The South China Morning Post reported Wan saying the mainland firm Henan Shuanghui (in which Shuanghui International is a major shareholder) plans to boost the production capability of its low-temperature products – including sliced ham and spiral hams – to 2 million metric tons of packaged meat next year from 1.8 million metric tons this year.

He said Shuanghui would leverage Smithfield’s technology in processing food and its know-how in food-safety improvement and production efficiency.

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