The sharp decline is linked to a series of severe ASF outbreaks that struck several major industrial farms throughout the year. In August alone, veterinary authorities were forced to cull around 7,000 pigs at infected facilities.
Since the beginning of 2025, pork production has dropped by approximately 15%, already causing a noticeable shortage on the domestic market.
According to the National Food Safety Agency (ANSA), 18 ASF outbreaks were registered in the country between January 1 and October 1. The disease has put strong pressure on the market: pork prices have risen from 75–80 MDL per kilogram in June to 95–120 MDL today (EUR 4.9–6.2).
Two major industrial farms — Golden Piglet and Porco Bello — suffered the most devastating impact. Together, they accounted for roughly half of Moldova’s industrial pork output.
At the beginning of the year, these farms lost approximately 105,000 pigs, effectively paralyzing the local market and delivering a serious blow to meat-processing enterprises.
Evgeniy Salkutsan, chairman of the meat processors’ association, acknowledged that after such large-scale losses the industry can no longer maintain adequate production capacity.
Experts warn that restoring the affected farms will take not months, but years. Extensive sanitation, the import of new piglets, and the re-establishment of supply chains will be required.
In the meantime, Moldova is forced to compensate for the shortfall by increasing pork imports. The most likely supplying countries are Spain, Poland, and Romania.
Moldova’s pig sector, which was already unstable, now faces its most severe crisis in years. Experts caution that:
- pork prices may continue to rise,
- production recovery will be slow,
- dependence on imports will grow,
- meat processors will operate below capacity.
Overall, ASF is impacting not only farms but also the country’s food security, making the fight against the virus a strategic national priority.
PigUA.info based on pigprogress.net