Nearly two decades after the outbreak of African swine fever, Georgia’s pig sector is facing a new threat. Rising imports of cheap pork and live pigs, combined with higher feed, energy and farm operating costs, have caused the number of pig farms in the country to fall by 12% in one year, while the pig population declined by nearly 12%.

Between January and June 2026, Germany imported around 5.22 million live pigs, down 2% from the same period last year. Piglet deliveries remained close to the previous year’s level, while imports of slaughter pigs fell by 13.9%, continuing the long-term downward trend in such shipments, according to data from the German pig producers’ organisation ISN.

African swine fever continues to circulate in India, periodically causing new outbreaks in different parts of the country. In 2025, the virus was detected in 15 states, where more than 21,000 pigs died from the disease and over 13,000 additional animals had to be culled, according to the annual report of India’s Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

Paraguay has exported pork to the Philippine market for the first time. The initial shipment, weighing more than 27 tonnes, consisted of bone-in pork ribs, while the country plans to supply at least one container of pork per month to the new market. The first shipment was announced by Paraguay’s National Animal Health and Quality Service (SENACSA).

A series of training sessions dedicated to the responsible use of antibiotics in livestock production and efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance will take place in Ivano-Frankivsk on July 27–29.

Brazilian livestock producers, the meat processing industry and the federal government remain divided over future rules governing antimicrobial use in animal production. Major exporters are calling for a complete ban on antibiotic growth promoters to restore access to the EU market, while producers warn that such restrictions could increase production costs and reduce animal performance.

A newly identified piglet syndrome, first detected in the Netherlands in late 2024, has now been confirmed in Denmark, Belgium and Germany. The associated parvovirus variant has also been detected in Spain. The condition is characterised by bulging eyes, reddening of the skin and hair loss, although mortality among affected animals has so far remained low.

Between January and June 2026, China imported 390,000 tonnes of pork, down 26.4% from the same period last year. Meanwhile, imports of pork offal remained relatively stable, declining by only 4.8%.

On July 20–21, Cherkasy hosted training sessions for representatives of territorial communities focused on the responsible use of antibiotics in livestock production, risk communication, and efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The training was organised under the “Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control” (EpiC) project with the participation of the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders.

The European Commission has authorised the use of a non-penetrating captive bolt for piglets weighing up to 10 kg, as well as high-expansion nitrogen foam for stunning and killing pigs weighing between 15 and 41 kg in situations other than slaughter. The new methods have been incorporated into EU rules on the protection of animals at the time of killing.

In July, Brazilian hog producers’ purchasing power relative to key feed ingredients fell to multi-year lows. Corn and soybean meal prices increased faster than live hog prices, placing additional pressure on farm production margins, according to Brazil’s Centre for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (Cepea).

Ukraine’s Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food resumed full operations and official communications on July 21. The ministry returned exactly one year after it had been abolished, with Taras Vysotsky appointed as its head.

The decline in pig prices in Great Britain slowed during the second quarter, while the backlog of pigs awaiting slaughter appears to have been largely cleared. However, abundant pork supplies across Europe, weak demand for processed products and the termination of procurement contracts continue to pose risks for producers.

Estonian hunters have begun using drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras to locate wild boar and plan hunting activities near pig farms. The technology is being deployed as part of strengthened measures to prevent African swine fever from spreading to commercial farms and backyard holdings.

As of June 1, 2026, the U.S. swine inventory stood at 73.7 million head, virtually unchanged from a year earlier. A decline in the breeding herd was offset by a slight increase in market hog numbers, while sow productivity continued to improve.

Despite a slight decline in exports in June, Brazil recorded its strongest-ever first half for pork exports in 2026. Between January and June, export volumes increased by 10%, while export value rose by nearly 8%, reinforcing expectations of a new annual record by the end of the year.

The Council of the European Union has completed the EU's internal procedures for the modernised trade agreement with Mexico, paving the way for its entry into force. The agreement will eliminate most remaining customs duties, expand access to markets for goods and services, and create new opportunities for more than 45,000 European companies, the vast majority of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

After more than a year without new cases, African swine fever (ASF) has re-emerged in wild boar in the German federal state of Brandenburg. The new cases were detected within a border buffer zone near Poland, while Germany currently has four active areas where the virus continues to circulate in wild boar populations.

Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada has appointed Taras Vysotsky as Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food. The newly appointed minister stated that his key priorities will include the European integration of the agricultural sector, support for producers, development of value-added processing, digitalisation, and assistance to frontline communities.

Starting July 22, the United States will impose a 25% tariff on most goods imported from Brazil. However, several key export products, including beef, coffee and aviation products, have been exempted from the new duties. Brazil has already announced its intention to challenge the decision at the World Trade Organization (WTO).