Global pork benefits from steady demand, low production costs amid headwinds

The global pork sector is expected to grow in 2025 despite an onslaught of challenges, including geopolitical tensions, animal diseases and possible disruption of trade flows, according to RaboResearch’s latest Global Pork Quarterly report.

Two of the world’s largest economies and key pork importers and exporters — the United States and China — remain at a crossroads. While the two countries have eased tariffs temporarily, China retains an additional 10% tariff on US pork imports in response to broader US tariffs on Chinese goods. Consequently, US pork variety exports to China have dropped 15% in the first half of 2025 compared to a year ago.

So far, the United States has secured trade deals with the United Kingdom, Vietnam, Indonesia and Japan, but RaboResearch said, “Uncertainty around US trade policy — rooted in the Trump administration’s approach — continues to cloud investment and trade decisions.”

Herd health concerns

Other difficulties surrounding the global pork sector include ongoing disease outbreaks, particularly in Asia and Europe.

African swine fever (ASF) is a major concern in Southeast Asia, where new cases continue to be reported regularly. While the region has implemented vaccines and other control measures, RaboResearch said “a more coordinated effort between governments and industry is needed.”

ASF is mostly under control in China although its impact has been disruptive, prompting a shift toward modern, large-scale operations at the expense of smallholders, according to the report.