After the first foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Germany in January, the virus continues to spread across Europe. Recently, cases have been confirmed in Hungary and Slovakia, affecting cattle farms in both countries. Experts suggest that these outbreaks may be linked due to their geographical proximity.

Canadian farmers are facing increasing economic pressure due to simultaneous trade restrictions from China and the United States. On March 21, China imposed 100% tariffs on Canadian canola oil and meal and 25% tariffs on fish products and pork. These measures were taken in retaliation for Canada’s October tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum.

Slovakia confirmed the presence of foot and mouth disease in the country, affecting three cattle farms.

A second case of African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg. The first case in the region was recorded in August 2024, when the virus was detected in a sick wild boar that was shot near Hemsbach (Rhine-Neckar district).

It is still prohibited to transport susceptible animals from Győr-Moson-Sopron County to third countries and European Union member states.

In 4 years, Romania is expected to boost its pig population to reach complete self-sufficiency in pork, according to Minister of Agriculture Florin Barbu.

An outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed at a commercial pig farm near the village of Roscani in the Anenii Noi district of Moldova. Laboratory tests detected the virus in samples collected from pigs. According to the National Food Safety Agency, the farm houses approximately 65,000 pigs.

Leading Danish pork producer Danish Crown has announced the closure of its factory in Pinghu near Shanghai—the company’s only pig processing facility in China.

As of March 12, 2025, Germany has officially regained its "free of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) without vaccination" status for most of the country. The only exception is a small containment zone in Brandenburg, which remains under restrictions.

African swine fever (ASF) remains one of the most serious threats to the pig sector in Ukraine and worldwide. The absence of an effective vaccine, significant economic losses, and the complexity of controlling the virus compel producers to seek new approaches to biosecurity and risk management. This is why the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders, together with leading industry experts, has developed a unique online course, “African Swine Fever — Everything the Business Needs to Know.”

Prices in the pork market remain within last week's range, but upward adjustments are becoming more common, according to analysts of the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders, based on the results of weekly monitoring.

The European Union has announced it will impose counter tariffs on $28 billion (€26 billion) worth of US goods starting in April. This move comes in response to the United States' increased tariffs on steel and aluminum, the European Commission stated on March 12.

The introduction of tariffs on agricultural products is making business more challenging for Smithfield Foods, the largest U.S. pork producer, according to CEO Shane Smith, Reuters reports.

British pork exporters are set to capitalise on expanded trade opportunities in Mexico, where market access has recently widened to include pork offal.

Pig meat prices softened, pressured by lower quotations in the European Union.

The federal government is committing up to $567.16 million to support Canada’s pork producers in the event of an African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak, Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced last Friday. The funding aims to shield the industry from economic disaster if export markets shut down due to the highly contagious livestock disease.

A new study has found that the African swine fever (ASF) vaccine containing the modified live virus strain ASFV-G-∆I177L is not genetically stable and may revert to virulence, causing harm to pregnant sows and their offspring.

This comes after the U.S. imposition of an additional 10% tariff on products imported from China.