Smithfield Foods Inc., the world’s largest pork producer, has filed for its initial public offering in the US, joining a growing number of firms pursuing market debuts this year.

Smithfield Foods, the world's largest pork producer, filed for an initial public offering in the US. Hong Kong-based WH Group, which purchased Smithfield for $4.7 billion in 2013, will sell some of its shares in the IPO,

Smithfield Foods, producer of the iconic Smithfield Ham and the largest pork producer in the world, will go public in an initial public stock offering.

Pork producer Smithfield Foods on Monday made public its paperwork for an initial public offering in the United States. The U.S. IPO market rebounded last year as stronger equity markets and strengthening bets of a soft landing for the economy encouraged companies to list their shares.

The proposed listing comes amid pricing pressures in the pork industry and mounting public scrutiny over the agriculture industry's ties to China.