As of January 1, 2026, updated animal welfare requirements for farm animals, harmonised with European legislation, entered into force in Ukraine. For the pig sector, this means a transition to new housing standards that require significant investments and changes in production practices.

In 2025, Chile reached record foreign trade results, and pork strengthened its position as one of the country’s key food exports. Asia became the main destination market, confirming strong demand for Chilean products in strategic global markets.

Brazilian ethanol producer Inpasa has announced the first-ever shipment of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) to China. The cargo, totaling about 62,000 tons, opens a new export market for this ethanol byproduct for Brazil.

South Korea has recorded its sixth African swine fever (ASF) case since the beginning of the year. The new outbreak was detected at a farm near the city of Boryeong, after which the government introduced additional restrictions and strengthened quarantine measures at the national level.

January 2026 began for German pig farmers with a sharp price decline: quotations for slaughter pigs at the start of the month fell from €1.60 to €1.45/kg. Although the market later stabilised, the speed and scale of the drop came as a surprise to producers and set a tense tone for the entire month.

Spain has partially relaxed restrictions introduced due to African swine fever (ASF) while confirming 18 new positive cases of the disease in wild boars. Since November 2025, a total of 103 ASF cases have been detected in the country.

In 2025, Germany significantly reduced its imports of live pigs. According to the German Pig Farmers’ Association, imports of both piglets and slaughter pigs were lower than the previous year, with the sharpest decline recorded in the slaughter pig segment.

The discussion around the use of vaccines against African swine fever (ASF) has resurfaced in the professional community. However, experts stress that as of today, there is no registered and internationally recognized ASF vaccine either in Ukraine or in the European Union. This was highlighted by Oksana Yurchenko, President of the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders, in a podcast.

Amid a prolonged price slump and oversupply in the mass pork market, Chinese consumers are increasingly choosing traditional “black pork,” considering it higher in quality and taste. Rising demand for this premium product is creating new opportunities for producers who are suffering losses in the conventional segment.

In 2026, the global pork industry will show uneven production dynamics amid ongoing shifts in international trade. Biosecurity, animal diseases, high investment costs, and trade restrictions will shape supply, while producers are increasingly focusing on productivity, cost reduction, and cautious expansion.

New cases of African swine fever (ASF) have been recorded in wild boar in Catalonia near Barcelona. All detections are within the already established surveillance zone, while pig farms in the region remain disease-free. Authorities are strengthening monitoring and will deploy drones with thermal cameras for nighttime animal detection.

A new podcast featuring Oksana Yurchenko, President of the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders, has been released on the “Minselo” YouTube channel. The discussion focused on the real state of Ukraine’s pig sector, its key risks, and the challenges arising in the context of European integration.

The European Union and India have agreed on a free trade agreement that opens access to a market of nearly 2 billion consumers and creates new opportunities for selected agricultural and processing sectors, while maintaining protection for “sensitive” areas of agriculture.

The international genetics company Hendrix Genetics, together with its Chinese partner Huanshan Group, has opened a new nucleus facility — the Hendrix Huanshan Nucleus Farm — in Anhui province in eastern China. The project aims to accelerate genetic progress in pig production and strengthen local breeding capacity.

At the end of January, prices for live slaughter pigs are rebounding, analysts of the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders report, citing the results of the Association’s weekly monitoring of procurement prices.

After a strong performance in 2025, Brazil’s pork industry remains optimistic about 2026. Analysts forecast rising exports, moderate production growth and the maintenance of high prices on both domestic and international markets.

U.S. President Donald Trump will visit Iowa — a key agricultural state — against the backdrop of rising tension across the American farm belt. Weak corn and hog markets, high production costs, and delays in biofuel policy decisions are testing farmers’ support, Reuters reports.

In 2025, pork production in Vietnam increased by 4% to nearly 5.4 million tonnes. The growth was achieved despite significant herd losses in the second half of the year caused by the spread of African swine fever (ASF), according to the country’s General Statistics Office.

In 2025, China significantly increased its domestic pork production, reaching a record high, while imports of pork products continued to fall. This trend indicates growing self-sufficiency in the world’s largest pork market.