In 2024, pork remained the leading type of meat produced in the European Union, but the fastest growth came from the poultry sector, while output of beef, sheep meat and goat meat continued to fall. This is shown by Eurostat data published in the Key figures on the European food chain – 2025 edition report.

The free trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc could expand Brazilian pork access to the EU market, but its short-term impact on Brazil’s exports is expected to be limited due to the small quota. This is stated in an analytical assessment by the research center Cepea.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, China increased pork production by 7% year-on-year to 15.7 million tonnes. The growth was driven by accelerated slaughtering as producers sought to reduce herd sizes amid overcapacity and falling prices, Reuters reports.

The European Union and the South American bloc Mercosur signed a free trade agreement on January 17, which is expected to become the largest trade pact in the EU’s history. The document предусматриває lower tariffs and an expansion of bilateral trade, but it still requires approval by the European Parliament and ratification by the legislatures of Mercosur member states before it can enter into force.

South Korea has recorded its first case of African swine fever (ASF) in nearly two months. The virus was detected at a pig farm in Gangwon Province, prompting authorities to begin mass culling and impose temporary restrictions to prevent further spread of the disease.

Catalonia’s pig sector has suffered losses of more than €60 million due to an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar near Barcelona, despite no cases being detected on farms. Against the backdrop of export restrictions, a sharp price decline, and rising administrative pressure, farmers are urging authorities to ease regulatory pressure and delay the introduction of new requirements.

The Philippines has lifted a temporary ban on imports of pork and pork products from Poland, reopening one of the most promising markets in Southeast Asia for Polish exporters. The restrictions had been introduced as a protective measure against African swine fever (ASF).

AgriAcademy, an online learning platform for agribusiness, has announced the launch of a new free course, “Biosecurity for Hunting Farms,” developed by experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The training program aims to strengthen Ukraine’s preparedness to combat African swine fever (ASF) — one of the most serious threats to livestock production and food security.

Catalonia has confirmed 13 new cases of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar in the province of Barcelona, bringing the total number of positive detections to 60. All findings remain within the designated 6-kilometer active surveillance zone around the initial outbreak, while the region’s 55 pig farms are currently still ASF-free.

New epizootic developments related to African swine fever (ASF) are being recorded in various regions of the world. In January, the virus was detected again in Bhutan; in Vietnam, authorities are investigating a major case involving the use of ASF-infected pork in canned-meat production; and in Europe, ASF pressure in wild boar remains high despite only sporadic cases in domestic pig holdings. Reports of new outbreaks are also coming in from Africa, while Japan is reporting continued spread of classical swine fever among wild fauna.

Catalonia’s pig farming sector has already suffered approximately €63 million in losses due to the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) detected in the Vallès Occidental area. These estimates were released by the farmers’ union Unió de Pagesos, which stressed that after the disease was confirmed, producers shifted from operating profitably to sustained losses—primarily as a result of export restrictions outside the EU and a sharp decline in pork prices.

Farmers in a number of European countries continue large-scale protests against the trade agreement between the European Union and the South American bloc Mercosur, which was backed by a majority of EU member states on January 9, 2026. Agricultural producers warn of a potential influx of cheaper products, unfair competition, and risks to food security and the sustainability of European production.

In 2025, African swine fever (ASF) developed unevenly across Europe: the number of outbreaks in domestic pigs increased slightly, while a sharp rise in cases among wild boars signaled significantly stronger epidemiological pressure. Wild boar continue to be the main reservoir of the virus, and one of the most notable developments of the year was the emergence of ASF in Spain.

As of January 1, 2026, new rules on sow housing have come into force in Denmark, providing for a gradual phase-out of sow confinement in farrowing crates. From now on, sows must be kept loose in farrowing pens, except for a short period immediately around farrowing, when the risk of piglets being crushed is at its highest.

European Union countries have given provisional approval to a free trade agreement between the EU and the South American Mercosur bloc—the largest trade deal in the history of the European Union in terms of tariff reductions. At the same time, the agreement remains one of the most controversial, due to concerns raised by farmers, environmental groups, and several governments about its potential impact on agriculture and the environment.

At the end of 2025, Hungary recorded an outbreak of Aujeszky’s disease (pseudorabies) at a large pig farm near the border with Croatia. The detection of the disease in a country that had officially been free of the infection for almost ten years prompted the introduction of strict veterinary measures and warnings for producers both within the region and beyond.

Italy has given decisive support to the trade agreement between the European Union and the South American Mercosur bloc, potentially allowing the EU to sign the deal in the near future. Rome’s change in position has become a key factor in overcoming resistance from several member states and advancing one of the largest trade agreements in the history of the Union.

Over the next decade, the European Union is expected to see a gradual but steady decline in both pork production and pork consumption. This outlook is outlined in the updated ten-year agricultural market forecast prepared by the European Commission.

In Germany’s federal state of North Rhine–Westphalia, the situation with African swine fever (ASF) in the wild boar population has become more complicated. In late December, infected carcasses were once again discovered outside the fenced infected zone. Authorities are now considering expanding the affected area and installing additional fencing.