China’s pork output drop­ped for a sixth straight quarter, as the world’s top producer continued to reel from the impact of African swine fever (ASF) and work stoppages due to COVID-19.

Reuters reported the nation experienced a sharp 29% plunge in first-quarter output, which un­­derlines the extent of the impact from ASF and the huge task the sector faces in trying to rebuild after the disease killed millions of pigs since August 2018.

It slashed China’s pork...