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.

African swine fever (ASF) has already caused significant losses for Spain’s meat industry. In the first half of 2026, exports of pork and offal to Japan fell by 73.9% in volume and 77.5% in value, while shipments to Mexico effectively came to a halt. In these two markets alone, the value of exports of meat, offal and processed products declined by nearly €350 million compared with the same period of 2025, according to the National Association of Meat Industries of Spain (ANICE).

U.S. pork exports totalled 224,300 tonnes in July 2026, down 6% from a year earlier. Export value also fell by 6% to $641.8 million. However, for the first seven months of the year, U.S. pork exports remain ahead of last year’s pace: volume increased by 2% to 1.73 million tonnes, while value rose by 1% to $4.86 billion, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

The foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) situation on the Greek island of Lesbos is worsening: nearly 82,000 animals have already been culled due to the outbreaks, and the national army has been brought in to coordinate disease-control measures. The decision followed a move by local authorities on 27 August to halt the culling of animals on infected farms, despite FMD control protocols requiring it.

Porcine ileitis is often associated with the acute clinical signs described in textbooks. In commercial production, however, the greater threat is often a different scenario — subclinical disease, when there are no obvious symptoms but production losses are already occurring.

Spain expects to strengthen its position in the Philippine pork market following the resumption of exports from regions free of African swine fever (ASF). The Philippines is Spain’s third-largest pork export market by volume and accounts for 14% of its exports, while Spain itself is the country’s second-largest pork supplier after Brazil.

Brazil has overtaken Canada to become the world’s third-largest pork exporter, behind only the European Union and the United States. According to Rabobank, the competitive positions of key suppliers are shifting: Brazil is actively diversifying its export markets, while structural challenges in the EU could weaken its leadership over time.

What is a sow really worth to a farm — and why should her value not be measured only by the cost of replacement? This will be one of the topics discussed on 23 September at the International Congress “Profitable Pig Production” as part of the “Health and Veterinary Medicine” section.

In the first half of 2026, the United Kingdom exported 173,200 tonnes of pork and pig products, 11% more than a year earlier. At the same time, imports declined by 5.6%, which, combined with higher domestic production, increased the country’s pork self-sufficiency rate from 61% to 66%, AHDB reports.

Private soybean crushers in China are entering the fourth quarter of 2026 under pressure from several factors at once: Brazilian stocks are declining, U.S. soybeans remain expensive due to a 10% import tariff, and crushing margins are negative. The market is also being pressured by weaker feed demand amid expectations of a reduction in China’s pig herd.

When reproductive performance in a herd declines, the first question often seems simple: is the problem with the sow or with management? In reality, the answer requires a systematic analysis — from semen quality and the work of the artificial insemination technician to feeding, gilt condition and prevention of embryonic mortality. These issues will be discussed on 23 September at the International Congress “Profitable Pig Production”.

Increased fertility, faster growth, improved feed conversion ratio… Swine genetics have evolved significantly in recent years.