The U.S. pork industry is stepping up its efforts in the South Korean market, focusing on the corporate and institutional catering segment. Large companies are increasingly using corporate cafeterias as a tool for employee retention, creating new opportunities to promote products, including imported pork.

With the introduction of new animal welfare requirements in Ukraine, effective from January 1, 2026, educational and practical resources for their implementation have become especially relevant for producers. In response, two key tools are now available — an online course on the AgriAcademy platform and a special issue of the Profitable Pig Production magazine.

Higher grain and feed ingredient prices driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are increasing financial pressure on Chinese pig producers. The industry, already struggling with low pork prices and weak demand, is facing an even more difficult situation due to sharply rising production costs.

The European Union has completed all procedural steps required for the provisional application of its trade agreement with Mercosur countries. The agreement is expected to take effect on May 1, 2026, opening new opportunities for trade and investment.

The European Union has introduced new safeguard mechanisms for the meat market within the framework of its trade agreement with Mercosur countries. The corresponding Regulation (EU) 2026/687 provides for rapid response measures in cases of sharp increases in imports or significant price declines.

New cases of African swine fever (ASF) have been confirmed among wild boars in Catalonia. The total number of infected animals has reached 232, while the number of outbreaks has risen to 40. The virus has also been detected for the first time in the municipality of Sabadell.

On March 19, the annual MeatForum conference took place in Kyiv, where Oleksandra Bondarska, Vice President of the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders, outlined the key challenges and prospects for Ukrainian pork exports.

Germany and South Africa are intensifying negotiations to ease trade restrictions related to African Swine Fever (ASF) and have agreed to strengthen cooperation in combating Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD).

A new free online course, “Pig Welfare: Best Practices and Inspection Guidelines,” has been launched on the AgriAcademy educational platform. The course was developed with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

An outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) has been confirmed on a mixed cattle and sheep farm on the Greek island of Lesvos. Although pigs are also susceptible to the virus, no cases have been detected in pigs so far.

The South Korean government plans to strengthen quarantine and biosecurity measures at pig farms, slaughterhouses, and feed production facilities after the African swine fever (ASF) virus was detected in pig feed.

In 2025, the European Union slightly increased pig slaughter after a sharp decline in production in previous years. In total, 227 million pigs were slaughtered across the 27 EU member states, which is more than 5 million head higher than in 2024.

African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar has been detected for the first time in the Barcelona district of Spain. Following the identification of 11 new cases, the total number of infected animals has risen to 227.

In 2026, Brazil is expected to increase both pork production and export volumes thanks to strong external demand, more affordable feed supplies, and competitive prices on the global market. Analysts anticipate that the sector will maintain high profitability and set new export records.

In the second half of the year, U.S. pork exports to South Korea began to recover after a slow start. However, overall shipment volumes still remained below 2024 levels by the end of the year.

The military escalation involving Iran, Israel, and the United States does not directly affect the global swine industry, but it may have significant indirect consequences for the sector. The main concern is the sharp increase in energy prices, which will affect production costs in livestock farming.

In 2026, pork production, consumption, and imports in Japan are expected to remain at roughly the same level as in the previous year. Market stability is attributed to high production costs, limited opportunities for expansion, and steady consumer demand for pork.

Twenty-one additional cases of African swine fever (ASF) have been detected in wild boar in Catalonia. The total number of confirmed infected animals since the first case at the end of November has now reached 216, while more than 1,700 animals tested have returned negative results.

The “thaw” has reached the Ukrainian pork market as well, according to analysts from the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders (AUPB), citing the results of their weekly monitoring of procurement prices for slaughter pigs.