Raising demand in both the domestic and export markets is the key to supporting pork prices, with a surge of pork production. And the pork in­­dustry hopes to do just that, leaders at the Pork Forum in Kansas City said last week.

The National Pork Board is looking strategically at global markets, says Craig Morris, vice president of international marketing for the National Pork Board. “We need to take a very strategic approach to these markets because they’re vital,” Morris said.

U.S. pork exports recorded the largest year ever in volume in 2017, selling more than 5.3 billion pounds of pork and pork variety meats. Export value re­­turned an average $53.47...