Pork

Pig meat, the world's second meat by volume, where China produces nearly half and animal disease can upend global trade.

Livestock & dairy · No. 110

• Not on a critical list
• HHI 2,266 · moderately concentrated

One pig virus in China, home to nearly half the world's pork, helped freeze global output growth for a whole decade.

Chart: Illustration: Pork

Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Pigs move through breeding, nursery and finishing barns, mostly in big confined units, and reach market weight of about 230 pounds in roughly six months.

Three things to know

1. World pork output barely grew between 2010 and 2020, when African swine fever wiped out much of China's herd, then climbed about 15% by 2024.
2. Pork is the world's second meat by volume, at about 125 million tonnes in 2024, just behind chicken at 128 million.
3. The United States and Spain each ship roughly 18% of traded pig meat, while Japan is the single biggest buyer at 12.3%.

The journey

1. 1 Breeding sowsSows farrow litters in breeding units
2. 2 Finishing barnsPiglets fattened on corn and soy
3. 3 SlaughterAbout 230 pounds at six months
4. 4 CuttingLoins, hams and bellies sold separately
5. 5 ProductsFresh, cured, or frozen for export

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