Dear readers,
Some good news for the swine industry:
- Malaysia has reopened Spain’s access to export pork, with imports permitted only from regions not affected by African swine fever, according to the Department of Veterinary Services. Malaysia banned imports of pork and pork products from Spain in December 2025 following an ASF outbreak in the Barcelona region.
- The first official shipment of pork products from the Czech Republic has arrived in Vietnam. Pork is the most consumed meat product in Vietnam, with 4.3 million tons in 2023. Brazil accounts for 40% of the country’s pork imports, followed by Russia with around 30%. In 2024, a total of 43 countries exported pork to Vietnam, including Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands.
- Excelsior Farms Inc. (EFI), collaborating with Pig Improvement Company (PIC) Philippines Inc., Cargill Philippines Inc., and Alltech Biotechnology Corp., has reintroduced the Swinenovation facility located in Kasambagan, Cebu City, transforming it into a cutting-edge resource center for livestock and agriculture education .The facility was initially launched in 2018 but had to shut down temporarily due to the pandemic. The Swinenovation Museum, which does not charge an entrance fee, offers engaging educational experiences for farmers, students, and various stakeholders .It highlights progress in areas such as genetics, dietary needs, animal welfare, biosecurity measures, contemporary swine production, and eco-friendly farming techniques .
- The European Commission(EC) has adopted new stunning and killing methods for specific categories of pigs. One of the main changes is the authorization of the use of the non-penetrative captive bolt as a killing method for piglets weighing up to 5 kg live weight and as a simple stunning method for piglets weighing between 5 and 10 kg. The regulation also authorizes the use of high-expansion nitrogen foam as a new stunning and killing method for pigs weighing between 15 and 41 kg live weight in situations other than slaughter. expansion ratio, foam homogeneity, container filling time, uniform foam distribution and stocking density.
Events calendar:
- WOFEX – World Food Expo is the biggest and most effective food trade show in the Philippines. This year you can visit the fair at our two simultaneous locations – World Trade Center and SMX Convention Center for 4 days to source, network and learn, between July 29 and 1’th of August.
Brasil
The European pig industry had some good years in the last two decades. External factors helped the sector to reach important export markets, but the reasons were external and nothing lasts forever. Different outbreaks of highly contagious diseases, as Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus(PEDV) and African Swine Fever(ASF) in major markets or at the competitors gave opportunities for strong pork exports.
The changes in the global protein flow and politics, as well as ASF, downsizing the European pig industry.
The EC approved a Dutch State aid plan amounting to €715 million aimed at the lasting reduction of ammonia emissions originating from livestock farming, as well as aiding in the rehabilitation of sensitive Natura 2000 regions of the Netherlands. The plan offers financial assistance for the voluntary, conclusive, and irreversible shutdown of livestock farms that contribute to these emissions .It builds on earlier Dutch farm closure initiatives (LBV, LBV-plus, and LBV smaller sectors), which received approval from the EC during 2023 and 2024 .Eligible farms will receive direct funding that covers between 100% and 110% of qualifying expenses, offering a substantial financial motivation for operators who opt to cease their activities permanently .The program will be applicable for a duration of five years.
In the same time, barely 226,000 pigs have been slaughtered in week 29 in the Netherlands. That is even 27,000 fewer pigs than in week 29 of 2025, and the slaughter pigs are also more than 2 kilograms lighter.
The “greening” of the pig industry started in Germany. Currently, there remain just 105 pig producers in Brandenburg .Over the past 15 years, the number of farms has dropped by over 50% .As of May 3, 2026, the state housed merely 529,000 pigs .This figure represents the smallest count recorded since 1990.The total has diminished by 9.5% within just the last half-year.
The global pork market is driven by the evolution of the Chinese pig production and consumption. When considering both pork and its offal, total imports for the January through June period hit 980,000 tons, reflecting a 14.8% drop from the 1.15 million tons imported in the first six months of 2025 .The amount of pork offal imported was 590,000 tons, representing a 4.8% decline in comparison to the same time frame. During the initial half of 2026, China brought in 390,000 tons of pork, marking a decrease of 26.4% compared to a relatively stable trend. These figures demonstrate the continuous changes in China’s appetite for imports after the remarkably elevated import quantities seen in 2020 and 2021 .The pork imports during the initial six months of 2026 represented under 20% of the levels recorded during the equivalent timeframe in 2021, which exceeded 2.3 million tons, while imports of pork offal have predominantly stayed consistent over time.
A new protein giant emerged in the recent years: Brazil. Benefiting from large arable areas and cheaper work force, they took over major markets from the competitors, especially the Chinese market. But nothing is granted forever, when you base your development on the Chinese market.
China imposed a 55% tariff on surplus Brazilian beef. China’s substantial tariff on excess beef has resulted in the shutdown of meat processing plants and layoffs of workers. At the same time, Brazilian dairy exports experienced a decline of 22.75% in June, whereas imports surged by 35%, indicating a swift transition from being a supplier to becoming a net importer .When the third-largest dairy producer globally stops exporting and starts to buy, the prices of cheese and condensed milk around the world tend to rise. Moreover, inflation in the prices of soybeans and corn is causing an increase in feed costs for Brazilian dairy herds .There is no transition to alternative markets—40% of Brazilian beef is sent to China, and other markets cannot absorb that volume.
In the same time, China is increases its share in the global poultry meat market, reaching 9,5%, taking over Thailand and becoming the third global supplier, after Brazil(35%) and the USA(20%). This can affect the profitability of the Brazilian chicken breast sales.
Brazilian cattle ranchers, the meat processing sector, and the national government are at odds regarding upcoming regulations on the use of antimicrobials in animal agriculture .Key exporters are advocating for a total prohibition on antibiotic growth enhancers to regain access to the European Union market, whereas producers caution that such limitations may lead to higher production expenses and negatively impact animal productivity. Tensions escalated after the European Union expelled Brazil in May from the list of nations allowed to sell animal-derived products to the European market .This ruling is anticipated to come into effect in early September .
The EU represents a relatively minor fraction of Brazil’s overall exports of key meat items .The European market accounts for about 4.3% of poultry meat exports, 6% of beef shipments, and just a limited share of pork exports .Still, the EU holds significant strategic importance for Brazil as a destination for premium products and as a reference for globally acknowledged production standards.
A recent analysis by RaboResearch indicated that Brazil’s shipments of chicken to the European Union rose by 53% compared to the first half of 2025, while beef exports grew by 7% during the same timeframe. Brazil plays an essential role as a provider to the EU, representing around 25% of the chicken and beef imported, which implies that any interruptions would have considerable consequences. An interruption would restrict the supply of beef and chicken in the EU, leading to an increase in prices .
Did Brazil reach its maximum as a global protein provider? Will we see an implosion of the livestock and meat production? We have to keep an eye on Brazil!
https://youtu.be/1DoBK8gVC_Y?si=c5fkgKVQ8Z3MbprP
