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.

The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) has begun work on developing pigs with reduced susceptibility to African swine fever (ASF) using CRISPR gene-editing technology. For now, the research is being conducted only on cells in the laboratory, and progression to embryos and animals will be possible only if the selected genetic modifications prove effective.

In the first half of 2026, Portugal imported 10.1% fewer pigs for slaughter than in the same period of 2025. At the same time, imports of pork and pork products rose by 7.8%, driven mainly by higher purchases of fresh and chilled meat.

Mexico has become the world’s largest importer of pork meat, excluding offal. According to Rabobank, this reflects a broader transformation in global pork trade: the market is gradually moving away from a model focused primarily on China and becoming more diversified and regionally distributed.

The Brazilian government said it could introduce reciprocal measures against the European Union if negotiations to lift restrictions on imports of Brazilian animal products fail to produce a “satisfactory outcome”. The ban took effect on 3 September amid new EU requirements for guarantees that prohibited antimicrobial substances are not used in production.

Global food prices rose in August 2026 to their highest level since November 2022. According to the FAO, the Food Price Index increased to 133.3 points amid adverse weather conditions, disruptions to Black Sea trade and rising geopolitical tensions. Prices increased across all major food categories — cereals, vegetable oils, sugar, meat and dairy products.

Brazil exported 131,500 tonnes of pork in July 2026, 3.7% more than in the same month last year. The Philippines remained the leading destination, while the sector continued to diversify its export markets. In the first seven months of the year, Brazilian pork exports increased by 9.1%.

Reports have emerged of a possible new outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in Belarus’s Gomel region, where pigs are reportedly being culled in several districts, according to opposition media. The country’s authorities have not officially confirmed the presence of ASF and deny that the virus is circulating. The scale and reliability of the reported outbreak remain unclear.

In the first half of 2026, Germany exported around 1.08 million tonnes of pork and pig products, 1.7% more than in the same period last year. Shipments to EU countries declined slightly, while exports to third-country markets increased by almost 30%. Sales to the United Kingdom grew particularly strongly, by around 45%.

Structural change in Germany’s pig sector continues: as of 3 May 2026, around 14,550 pig farms remained in the country, 4.6% fewer than a year earlier. At the same time, the total pig population changed very little, indicating further concentration of production in larger farms.

Denmark continues to implement its national plan to eradicate porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). Lolland, one of the country’s important agricultural regions, has officially become completely free of PRRS. As a result, there are no longer any PRRS-positive pig herds in the municipalities of Møn, Lolland and Falster.

As of 3 September 2026, Brazil is no longer authorised to export a number of animals and animal products intended for human consumption to the European Union. The reason is that the country was not included in the updated list of third countries that have demonstrated compliance with EU requirements concerning the use of certain antimicrobial medicinal products. The restrictions affect, among other products, beef, poultry meat, eggs, honey and casings.