Smithfield looking at China, no decision on beef

CHICAGO, Feb 28 (Reuters) - U.S. meat producer Smithfield Foods Inc. (SFD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) is considering possible investments in China, but no decisions have been made, Chief Executive C. Larry Pope told Wall Street analysts during an earnings conference call on Thursday.

He also said the company has not yet made a decision on its U.S. beef business, which some time ago Pope had said was not positioned correctly.

Pope spent 10 days in China in January and met with government and corporate officials there.

"It is a market that we have not paid much attention to in the past, but a market that we need to pay attention to going forward," Pope said.

China's huge population coupled with its large pork consumption has spurred the interest, he said.

"From an investment standpoint in China, we are just starting the process here," Pope said.

"I don't see any huge capex (capital expenditures) coming at us in that country for some period of time, if we make that decision. We have not made that decision. We've only made the decision to give this a good, strong look over the next three to four months, he said."

Smithfield currently has extensive hog and meat processing operations in Europe.

NO ACTION YET ON BEEF