Estonia is experiencing the largest outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in the last decade, which has dealt a severe blow to the national pig industry. The virus was confirmed at the country's largest farm, Ekseko in Viljandi County, which housed over 27,000 pigs. The farm supplied about 45% of all piglets in the country, so the consequences of the epidemic could be devastating for the entire industry.

An international group of scientists has concluded that a promising vaccine against African swine fever (ASF) can effectively protect pigs only against certain strains of the virus, while it is almost ineffective against others. This discovery highlights the urgent need to develop regionally adapted vaccines to effectively combat one of the most dangerous pig diseases in the world. The article was published in the journal Vaccines.

In early August, the Brazilian pork market saw a significant increase in prices for both live pigs and pork carcasses. According to the Cepea research centre, the increase in demand was driven by two factors: Father's Day celebrations (10 August) and the traditional increase in purchasing power after the start of monthly salary payments.

Estonian authorities have imposed month-long entry bans on 11 more pig farms across the country to curb the spread of African swine fever (ASF). The decision was made just days after similar restrictions were imposed on ten other farms, the Agri-Food Board (PTA) said.

July 2025 was the fifth warmest since weather records began in 1884, according to the UK Met Office. Average daily temperatures were 1.7°C above normal, and the spring drought meant that summer rainfall in the country remained below average. These weather conditions had a mixed impact on the pork market: they supported demand for products, especially for grilling, but at the same time created challenges for farmers due to heat stress in animals.

In the first half of 2025, pig farming in Vietnam showed a steady recovery: according to a USDA FAS report, the country's pig population grew by 3.8% compared to the same period last year. The increase was due to high pig prices and the gradual transition of farmers to semi-industrial production technologies.

In mid-August, three new outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) were confirmed among pigs on commercial farms in Estonia, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). One of the cases occurred on a large farm owned by the Finnish company Atria Plc, one of the largest meat processing companies in Northern Europe.

In less than six months, Danish meat processing giant Danish Crown has managed to attract over one million additional pigs for slaughter in the next financial year. The company expects its annual slaughter volume to reach 9.4 million head in 2025/26, bringing the enterprise as close as possible to full capacity.

Australia, known for its strong exports of beef, lamb and wine, remains almost invisible on the world map of pork exporters. Despite its vast territory, favourable climate and advantageous location close to growing Asian markets, the pig farming industry here has not yet reached its potential.

Plans by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to close the leading research centre Beltsville Agricultural Research Centre (BARC) in the suburbs of Washington have caused serious concern among scientists, farmers' associations and legislators. According to Reuters, experts warn that this decision could slow down or halt important research in the areas of pest control, plant diseases and crop genetics, which are critical to the US agricultural sector.

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has announced its intention to purchase frozen pork in the near future to replenish state reserves. This was reported by Reuters, citing an official statement from the commission.

According to the National Institute of Statistics (INS), in June 2025, Romania saw an increase in the production of all types of meat compared to May. Positive dynamics were observed in the pork, lamb, goat and poultry segments. At the same time, beef production decreased slightly.

Retail pork prices hit record-high levels this summer and are expected to remain elevated heading into the holiday season, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts said.

From January 2024 to May 2025, African swine fever (ASF) continued to spread around the world, posing increasing challenges for control and eradication. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), during this period, the disease was recorded in 51 countries and territories, with 14,918 outbreaks reported — 3,678 among domestic pigs and 11,240 in wild fauna.

The year 2024 was undoubtedly a year marked by resilience, adaptability, and progress for the Spanish white pig sector. In an international context severely affected by geopolitical tensions, rising costs, and ever-increasing regulatory demands, the Spanish pig sector once again demonstrated that it is up to the challenges ahead, reaffirming its status as the economic, social, and territorial driving force of our country.

Potential retaliatory measures in response to US import tariffs could put serious pressure on pork prices in Canada. This was stated by Paul Marchand, senior risk management analyst at HAMS Marketing Services.

Pork production in the UK remains positive and is forecast to continue growing not only in 2025 but also in 2026. According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), pork production will increase by 2.8% this year, reaching 988,000 tonnes. Further growth is expected in 2026, with the number of purebred pigs slaughtered increasing by 1.2%.

Estonia is experiencing the largest outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in recent years, which has dealt a devastating blow to the national pig industry. In just a few months, the country has lost about 25,000 pigs, which is about 10% of the total population. This was announced on 14 August by Minister of Agriculture Hendrik Johannes Terras during a government meeting, according to local media reports.

The pig population in Denmark has increased again, according to data released by the country's Statistical Office based on the results of the census as of 1 June 2025. Compared to the same period last year, the number of pigs in the country increased by 5.6% to about 11.89 million.