The Finnish Food Authority has expanded the inner core ASF zone along the border with russia following the discovery of new infected wild boar north of the municipality of Virolahti. Finland has now confirmed 44 cases of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar, while no outbreaks have been recorded on pig farms.

Japan’s pig herd and pork production are forecast to remain broadly unchanged in 2027 from 2026 levels, at 8.64 million head and 1.27 million tonnes carcase weight equivalent, respectively. At the same time, pork imports are expected to decline by 2% to 1.46 million tonnes following a sharp increase in shipments in 2026 and the accumulation of substantial stocks. Pork demand is expected to remain stable thanks to its price advantage over beef.

An outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed in the village of Mykhailiv, Velyka Oleksandrivka community, Beryslav district, Kherson region. Pig deaths were recorded in two backyard farms, and laboratory testing detected ASF virus DNA. A quarantine has been imposed in the affected area since 15 September 2026.

The 18th International Congress “Profitable Pig Production” took place on 23 September. Over the years, the event has become one of the key platforms for professional dialogue in Ukraine’s pig sector. Symbolically, the Congress’s “coming of age” this year coincided with a mature and highly practical discussion on new operating rules, technological solutions, veterinary challenges, markets, energy efficiency and business resilience.

The European Union and the Philippines have reached an agreement in principle on a free trade deal that would liberalise more than 94% of tariff lines and cover over 97% of bilateral trade in goods. For the European agri-food sector, the agreement is expected to improve access to the Philippine market, including tariff preferences for pork, as well as provisions covering dairy products and other goods. The final legal text still needs to be completed.

The United States, Canada and Mexico are increasing pork production in 2026, with growth driven largely by higher productivity and heavier slaughter weights rather than herd expansion. At the same time, the outlook for the second half of the year remains mixed due to weaker demand, stronger competition in export markets and uncertainty surrounding trade relations, according to an AHDB analysis.

The UK National Pig Association (NPA) has submitted a package of support measures to the government for pig producers in England. The sector is facing pressure from two sides: all four major meat processors are reducing or terminating supply contracts, while pig prices remain well below last year’s levels. The NPA fears that an additional 10,000–15,000 pigs could enter the spot market this autumn.

During the International Congress “Profitable Pig Production”, Ihor Lotskin, Director of the Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Medicine at the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, spoke about the progress made towards opening exports of pork products to the European Union.

French industry organisation Inaporc has launched a major social media campaign aimed at attracting young people to careers in pig production and the meat industry. A series of videos featuring young professionals is primarily targeted at people aged 14–20, with organisers aiming to reach around 6 million people and generate at least 30 million views.

In January–June 2026, the number of pigs slaughtered in the European Union increased by 1.6% compared with the same period last year. The largest rise was recorded in Denmark, at more than 8%. However, the European Commission expects EU pig slaughter to decline year on year in the second half of 2026.

The Finnish Food Authority established an additional restricted zone around the area affected by African swine fever (ASF) on 10 September 2026. The new zone is considered free from ASF and is intended to serve as a buffer between the infected area and the rest of the country. The main restrictions concern wild boar and the movement of pigs.

The pig industry operates in an environment where resilience is no longer an abstract concept but a daily necessity: biosecurity, adaptation to new requirements, more effective risk management, technical support and practical solutions for farms.

The African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in Finland could result in export revenue losses of up to €40 million in 2027 if products that have lost access to several foreign markets cannot be redirected to other countries. The estimate was published by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). So far, the direct impact of ASF on pork production remains minimal, but prolonged trade restrictions could significantly increase the economic consequences.

Measures introduced to ease pressure on the Swiss pork market have proven effective: the situation is gradually stabilising, while overcrowding in pig barns, which could have negatively affected animal welfare, has been avoided. As a result, the current market-relief measures are expected to be temporarily suspended at the end of September 2026.

The FAO Meat Price Index averaged 127.9 points in August, 1% higher than in July and close to its level a year earlier. The increase was driven by higher international prices for poultry meat, pork and ovine meat, while beef quotations declined. Pork prices rose mainly because of a reduced supply of slaughter-ready pigs in the European Union amid high temperatures.

In 2024, ammonia emissions from livestock farming in Spain fell by 2.3% compared with the previous year and by 17.6% relative to the 2005 baseline. The improvement is mainly attributed to lower emissions from manure management and the application of organic fertilisers, according to the Spanish Emissions Inventory System (SEI).

Brazil exported 131,100 tonnes of pork in August 2026, 8% more than in the same month last year. The Philippines remained the leading market, although shipments there fell by more than 30%. At the same time, sales to Japan, China and Vietnam increased significantly, confirming the continued diversification of Brazilian pork exports.

China has unveiled a plan to strengthen its agricultural insurance system in order to help stabilise farmers’ incomes and enhance food security. In the livestock sector, the plan calls for improved insurance protection for breeding sows, finishing pigs and dairy cattle, including through the use of tracking technologies and flexible adjustments to risk coverage levels.

The Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA) launched an awareness campaign on 1 September aimed at strengthening biosecurity on pig farms. The initiative is intended to help maintain Brazil’s high animal health status and protect the national herd from diseases currently affecting pig production in other parts of the world.

The Finnish Food Authority established an additional restricted zone around the area affected by African swine fever (ASF) on 10 September 2026. The new zone is intended to serve as a buffer between the ASF-infected area and the rest of the country. At the same time, the authorities amended rules on hunting and keeping dogs off leash within the infected zone.