SMITHFIELD, Va. – Smithfield Foods, a subsidiary of China-based WH Group, reported higher net income in the second quarter despite market volatility and lower prices for pork. Results were helped by the company’s fresh pork and international business units.

For the second quarter ended July 3, 2016, Smithfield reported net income of $137.8 million compared with $104.2 million posted in the second quarter of 2015.

Sales for the quarter were relatively flat at $3,492.6 million compared to $3,486.6 million in the year-ago quarter.

“Our most exciting growth prospect is the ongoing development of our packaged meats business,” the company said in a news release. “Although we have experienced meaningful and consistent improvement in packaged meats margins, we believe significant growth potential remains.”

Operating profit in the Fresh Pork segment, which consists of Smithfield’s US fresh pork operations, increased by $73.0 million primarily as a result of higher fresh pork market values relative to hog prices, the company said.

Packaged Meats operating profit declined 2 percent to $ 172.9 million on lower sales volume. “Operating profit remained relatively unchanged, but declined as a percentage of sales as we were not able to fully pass on a significant increase in raw material costs,” the company explained.

Smithfield’s Hog Production business reported operating profit retreated $23.9 million on lower sales which was partially offset by lower feed costs.

And operating profit in the company’s International business advanced by $4.4 million on improved results in Smithfield’s joint ventures in Mexico, the company said. Lower costs for feed were slightly offset by lower operating profit in Europe which primarily was due to higher raw material costs.

Meanwhile, sales in the segment grew 5 percent primarily due to an 11 percent increase in volume that was partially offset by the impact of foreign currency translation and lower average selling prices, the company said. “The volume increase was driven largely by a 12 percent increase in hogs processed and a 16 percent increase in poultry processed,” the company noted. “Foreign currency translation lowered sales 3 percent, primarily due to a stronger US dollar.

“We will continue to strengthen our consumer-focused marketing programs and promote innovation to improve our product mix toward branded, value-added products,” the company said. “We expect these actions to result in continued broad-based gains in packaged meats sales, volume, market share, distribution and margins.”

For the six months ended July 3, Smithfield reported net income of $258.8 million compared with $201.2 million in 2015.