US pork imports this year are expected to fall about 2% to 785M pounds, says the USDA's Shayle Shagam. If realized, that would be smallest level of imports since 1998. They fell 7% in 2010 as product from Canada, the predominant source of imports, dropped 8% as the country increased exports to Russia, South Korea and China. The USDA's 2012 import projections reflect increased US output, weaker domestic prices and continued weakness in the dollar. US hog prices are forecasted to average $63-67/hundredweight this year; last year's was a record $66.11. (curt.thacker@dowjones.com)

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 24, 2012 10:44 ET (15:44 GMT)