The United States and China have agreed to work towards reciprocal tariff reductions on goods worth a combined $60 billion. China plans to ease tariffs on a range of U.S. agricultural products, including corn, wheat, sorghum, meat, dairy products, vegetable oils and meals. However, soybeans — the largest U.S. agricultural export to China — were left off the list.

The global grain market is entering a period of heightened uncertainty: lower corn yields in Europe and the United States have already largely been priced in, but further increases in oil prices, more difficult Black Sea logistics and insufficient purchasing for early 2027 could continue to support quotations. At the same time, there is currently no global grain shortage — the key risk is whether existing supplies can be delivered to consumer markets at an acceptable cost.

The Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) has introduced new biosecurity requirements for pig farms to strengthen protection against African swine fever (ASF). The rules apply to all holdings, from professional breeding and finishing farms to small private pig holdings. Farms that meet the established requirements will be eligible for certain exemptions regarding the movement and marketing of animals if an ASF outbreak occurs nearby.

The African swine fever (ASF) situation in Southeast Asia is worsening. In Laos, ASF was recorded in 24 village herds from early July to mid-September, and according to the available complete reports, the disease affected around 18,400 pigs. In the Philippines, after a relatively calm first half of the year, the number of cases began to rise from August, and by 24 September outbreaks had been reported in 13 of the country’s 18 regions.

Chinese authorities have signed a protocol expanding access for Brazilian pork to the Chinese market and authorising exports of pork offal. According to estimates from the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA), the new market access could enable shipments of more than 100,000 tonnes of offal annually and generate over $100 million in additional revenue for the sector.

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.