Economy

PRRSpective project outlines a clear and simple plan for improving swine health management. Speakers Daniel Linhares, Clayton Johnson, Lance Mulberry, and Marius Kunze present actionable steps for achieving success through structured decision-making processes and disease control strategies.

Geopolitical uncertainty, the potential impact of Super El Niño and grain market volatility are keeping forward purchases on hold in a market that still remains within a not overly expensive range.

In 2025, the Latin American swine industry established structural expansion, reaching historic milestones in production, exports, and domestic consumption. However, in 2026, the sector faces a highly complex scenario, where projected growth will have to contend with the volatility of an unstable geopolitical environment and mounting sanitary pressures that are testing regional efficiency and profitability.

The post-ASF scenario will most likely paint a picture with fewer pigs and the unfortunate absence or disappearance of a number of operators.

The tight supply of pigs ready for slaughter pushed prices up in Germany, although demand in the meat market and structural challenges remained limiting factors. In the medium term, the decrease in supply could benefit the market.

There is no doubt that ASF weighs heavily on pig prices. Prices will probably rise until they reach (and possibly exceed) the cost price, but we should not expect any major joys in 2026.

Prices were expected to be significantly better than what ultimately materialized in the hog markets.