Swine news - Economy

The European Commission presents measures to help farmers facing sharply rising fertiliser costs and to support Europe's food security, delivering on the recently announced Fertiliser Action Plan.

Live hog and pork prices fell in May for the third consecutive month, pressured by weak domestic demand and a decline in export shipments.

Pig slaughter in Portugal in the first quarter of 2026 increased 39.1% year-on-year in the total number of pigs slaughtered.

Exports of U.S. pork maintained strong momentum in April, led by broad-based growth in Asian and Western Hemisphere markets.

A joint report by four international organizations warns that without sustained state investment and technological innovation, the region will not be able to guarantee its food security.

Nigeria & Denmark sign Letter of Intent to boost sustainable livestock, food safety & agricultural innovation in Phase II partnership.

Portugal increased its pork exports by 67.7% in the first three months of 2026 compared to 2025, with total exports reaching 14,707 tons in 2026 and 8,769 tons in 2025.

This marks the best performance for the first four months of 2026. In addition, both the value and volume of shipments increased by 16% and 18%, respectively, compared to the first four months of 2025, to more than 125 destinations.

Kenya is intensifying efforts to modernise and expand its pig industry, with the government projecting a 125 per cent increase in pork demand by 2030.

While both exports and imports have declined slightly compared to last year, lower import values contributed to an improvement in the monthly trade balance.

The European Commission has approved a €500 million aid package for Spain to support farmers affected by rising fertilizer prices.

Delegations from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay shared information on their national food safety systems and maximum residue limits, with a focus on export chains to the EU.

The Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed the first outbreak of African swine fever in pigs in Poland in 2026. The disease was detected at a farm with 21,390 pigs in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship.

Several Member States consider the European fertilizer plan to be insufficient and are calling for more aid, faster action, and structural measures.

The European Commission’s updated short-term outlook projects a 1% decline in pork production compared to 2025, with reduced exports and per capita consumption stabilizing at around 32.6 kg.

The EU Council supports reducing administrative burdens in the areas of pesticides, livestock farming, and food safety without lowering health standards.

USDA data showed U.S. pork production reached the highest April level on record in 2026.

The "Fair Price" scheme involves 61,000 producers from seven states and more than 80 companies in the agribusiness chain.

In this first estimate for the 2026/27 season, corn is facing a production adjustment following the record figures of the previous season, with declines in the U.S. and Argentina that gains in Brazil and China are unable to fully offset. Soybeans, by contrast, begin the new season with a more encouraging outlook: simultaneous growth in Brazil, the U.S., and Argentina would push global production to a new all-time high.

Minister André de Paula and Minister Sun Meijun confirm technical agreements on health requirements during bilateral meeting in Beijing.

The minimum access volume for pork imports was raised to address supply shortages and stabilize market prices.

France produced 2.1 Mt of pork in 2025, an increase of 0.35% year-on-year, with a 9.6% share in the EU.

The political agreement provides preferential market access for certain US agricultural products, including pork.

The Council decided today to suspend for one year customs tariffs on key nitrogen-based fertilisers used in agricultural production in the EU.