After a dramatic fall last year, prices for slaughter pigs have recovered, but the number of operators in the industry continues to decline. The uncertainty and risks of wartime are taking their toll, exacerbating economic challenges, epizootic risks and reinforcing a number of other barriers to the development of pig farming.

China is stepping up efforts to curb the speculative practice of “refattening” pigs, where small farmers purchase market-ready pigs from large producers and fatten them for a few extra months in the hopes of higher pork prices. The government aims to stabilize the market and reduce excessive feed consumption amid weak demand and ongoing efforts to cut reliance on imported grains.

In the second round of the pig farm buyout scheme, 210 companies agreed to shut down operations and demolish their barns in exchange for compensation. This adds to the 156 farmers who opted in during the first round. Notably, 60% of second-round participants—127 farms—are located in West Flanders, a region with fewer nitrogen-sensitive areas but the highest concentration of pig farms.

The second decade of June ends with stable purchase prices for live pigs, according to analysts at the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders, citing the results of weekly monitoring of purchase prices.

Hungarian authorities have officially announced that the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been successfully contained, and all related restrictions have been lifted both domestically and by the European Union.

China has officially approved 106 new U.S. meat processing facilities to export eligible pork and poultry products produced on or after June 12, according to a notice published on the website of the Chinese Customs Administration.

Canada is taking an important step towards improving biosecurity in animal husbandry by establishing its own national foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine bank.

At the end of May, Poland confirmed its first case of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the Łódź Province. The virus was detected in the carcass of a wild boar found in the municipality of Białaczów, in the village of Kuraszków, near the border with the Mazovian Voivodeship.

Germany’s Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) has prohibited Tönnies International Management GmbH from acquiring several companies and assets from Vion GmbH and Vion Beef B.V., including slaughterhouses located in Buchloe, Crailsheim, and Waldkraiburg.

The European Council has adopted a regulation introducing new tariffs on the remaining agricultural products and certain fertilisers from russia and belarus that had not previously been subject to additional duties. The move is aimed at reducing the EU's dependence on these imports and cutting Russia’s export revenues, thereby limiting its ability to fund its war of aggression against Ukraine.

Germany has confirmed its first case of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. According to the state's Ministry of Agriculture, the virus was detected in a dead wild boar found in the Sauerland region, Olpe district. The presence of ASF was confirmed by the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), Germany’s federal research institute for animal health.

Pork is often unfairly labeled as an unhealthy food, but in reality, it is a highly nutritious option that can play an important role in a balanced diet. Nutritionists recommend consuming lean meats, such as pork, 3–4 times a week, in portions of 100–125 grams, choosing lean cuts and trimming visible fat before cooking.

In May 2025, Brazil exported 118,700 tons of pork, marking a 13.7% increase compared to the same period last year (104,400 tons), according to the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA).

Austria and Hungary have joined France in voicing strong concerns over the proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur countries, concluded in Montevideo on December 6, 2024.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng arrived in Spain on Tuesday for a four-day official visit, during which he will meet with King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The visit is another sign of strengthening economic and political ties between the countries, Reuters reports.

The FAO Meat Price Index averaged 124.6 points in May 2025, up 1.6 points (1.3%) from the revised April figure and 7.9 points (6.8%) higher than the same month last year, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).