Global pork consumption averaged 13.5 kilograms per person in 2023. China's per capita consumption of 25.6 kilograms and an 18.2 percent domestic price increase highlight the market's scale and volatility.
Key Takeaways
- Thailand produced 0.66 million tonnes of pork in 2023 (FAOSTAT 'Pigmeat (carcass weight equivalent)').
- As of 2023, the EU had 17.9 million sows in total pig breeding (Eurostat livestock counts for breeding sows).
- In 2023, Canada’s hog and pig inventory was 12.2 million head (Statistics Canada pig inventory).
- China pork consumption was 25.6 kg per capita in 2023 (OECD/FAO Agricultural Outlook provides per-capita meat consumption estimates).
- In 2023, global pork consumption growth was 1.1% (OECD/FAO Agricultural Outlook, meat balance and consumption tables).
- Global pork per-capita consumption averaged 13.5 kg in 2023 (OECD/FAO Agricultural Outlook meat consumption per capita estimates).
- Chinese pork prices increased 18.2% in 2023 vs 2022 (FAO Food Price Index subcomponents include pork price series; see FAO Food Price Index - meat/pork).
- $1.92 per kg global benchmark wholesale pork price average in 2023 (World Bank commodity price data series for 'Pork, value of exports' is not comparable; use World Bank 'Pork, bacon, wholesale' where available).
- US corn prices averaged $6.54/bushel in marketing year 2023/24 (USDA WASDE baseline grain price series).
- PRRS outbreaks can reduce piglet survival by 10%–30% and increase mortality (peer-reviewed swine disease impact review).
- Global livestock sector emissions grew to ~7.1 GtCO2e in 2018 (FAO livestock sector total including methane and nitrous oxide).
- In 2024, African swine fever remained endemic across multiple regions, with 2024 outbreak notifications totaling over 2,000 cases worldwide (OIE/WOAH reported AFHS notifications; count varies by calendar year).
- The largest share of global pork production is concentrated in Asia, which supplied 77% of global pig meat in 2023 (OECD-FAO regional shares, 2023).
- In 2022, the EU reported 1.6 million pig breeding sows (Eurostat livestock counts; latest post-2021 dataset releases).
- In 2022, EU pig farms with 100+ pigs accounted for 76% of the total EU pig population (Eurostat farm structure and livestock distribution).
Pork demand is rising, but feed costs, ASF pressures, and tighter EU rules keep prices volatile.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry Trends6 stats
01
PRRS outbreaks can reduce piglet survival by 10%–30% and increase mortality (peer-reviewed swine disease impact review).
02
Global livestock sector emissions grew to ~7.1 GtCO2e in 2018 (FAO livestock sector total including methane and nitrous oxide).
03
In 2024, African swine fever remained endemic across multiple regions, with 2024 outbreak notifications totaling over 2,000 cases worldwide (OIE/WOAH reported AFHS notifications; count varies by calendar year).
04
In 2022, antimicrobial use in livestock was about 59% of total antimicrobial use in biomass animal production globally (peer-reviewed global AMR livestock share).
05
In 2023, EU’s new nitrates/animal manure regulation tightened compliance requirements affecting pig manure management, with member-state action plans impacting millions of pig units (European Commission implementation documents).
06
In 2023, the EU ban on conventional gestation crates continued to reduce sow housing; welfare-compliant systems covered most breeding operations (European Commission welfare legislation implementation).
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Across key industry trends, disease pressure and sustainability rules are reshaping global pig production, with PRRS outbreaks cutting piglet survival by 10% to 30% and worldwide emissions from livestock reaching about 7.1 GtCO2e in 2018 while outbreaks of African swine fever logged over 2,000 notifications in 2024.
02 · Category
Pricing & Costs5 stats
01
Chinese pork prices increased 18.2% in 2023 vs 2022 (FAO Food Price Index subcomponents include pork price series; see FAO Food Price Index - meat/pork).
02
$1.92per kg global benchmark wholesale pork price average in 2023 (World Bank commodity price data series for 'Pork, value of exports' is not comparable; use World Bank 'Pork, bacon, wholesale' where available).
03
US corn prices averaged $6.54/bushel in marketing year 2023/24 (USDA WASDE baseline grain price series).
04
US soybean meal prices averaged $422/short ton in 2023 (USDA AMS/market news or USDA ERS feed ingredient data used in pork input-cost analyses).
05
Feed accounts for about 60%–70% of total pig production costs in many industrial systems (peer-reviewed review of swine production cost structure).
Interpretation
Pricing & Costs Interpretation
For the Pricing & Costs angle, pork remained cost sensitive in 2023 as Chinese pork prices jumped 18.2% year over year and global wholesale pork averaged $1.92 per kg, while feed inputs stayed central to the budget since corn at $6.54 per bushel and soybean meal at $422 per short ton underline that feed still drives roughly 60% to 70% of pig production costs in many industrial systems.
03 · Category
Production Volumes4 stats
01
Thailand produced 0.66 million tonnes of pork in 2023 (FAOSTAT 'Pigmeat (carcass weight equivalent)').
02
As of 2023, the EU had 17.9 million sows in total pig breeding (Eurostat livestock counts for breeding sows).
03
In 2023, Canada’s hog and pig inventory was 12.2 million head (Statistics Canada pig inventory).
04
In 2023, Mexico’s pig inventory was 7.1 million head (SIAP/INEGI livestock inventory compiled in official releases).
Interpretation
Production Volumes Interpretation
In the Production Volumes category, pork output and pig breeding capacity are being tracked across countries that vary widely in scale, from Thailand’s 0.66 million tonnes of pork in 2023 to the EU’s 17.9 million breeding sows and large North American inventories such as Canada’s 12.2 million hogs and pigs and Mexico’s 7.1 million head in 2023.
More related reading
04 · Category
Consumption & Demand3 stats
01
China pork consumption was 25.6 kg per capita in 2023 (OECD/FAO Agricultural Outlook provides per-capita meat consumption estimates).
02
In 2023, global pork consumption growth was 1.1% (OECD/FAO Agricultural Outlook, meat balance and consumption tables).
03
Global pork per-capita consumption averaged 13.5 kg in 2023 (OECD/FAO Agricultural Outlook meat consumption per capita estimates).
Interpretation
Consumption & Demand Interpretation
In the Consumption and Demand outlook, global pork consumption held steady in 2023 with per-capita intake averaging 13.5 kg and only 1.1% growth, while China alone accounted for 25.6 kg per capita.
05 · Category
Market Structure3 stats
01
The largest share of global pork production is concentrated in Asia, which supplied 77% of global pig meat in 2023 (OECD-FAO regional shares, 2023).
02
In 2022, the EU reported 1.6 million pig breeding sows (Eurostat livestock counts; latest post-2021 dataset releases).
03
In 2022, EU pig farms with 100+ pigs accounted for 76% of the total EU pig population (Eurostat farm structure and livestock distribution).
Interpretation
Market Structure Interpretation
Market structure in 2023 is highly concentrated with Asia supplying 77% of global pig meat, while within the EU the industry remains dominated by scale as 100+ pig farms made up 76% of the pig population in 2022 and the EU had 1.6 million pig breeding sows.
06 · Category
Industry Overview5 stats
01
The global pig meat trade (imports) reached 25.6 million tonnes in 2023 (WTO goods trade statistics, pig meat HS codes 0203.1–0203.2/0203.3/0203.9 aggregates).
02
EU-27 pork imports were 2.4 million tonnes in 2023 (composite HS0203 import total for EU from UN Comtrade via public dashboard).
03
Global pork feed conversion efficiency improved by about 5% between 2010 and 2020 in major industrial systems (peer-reviewed meta-review of swine FCR trends).
04
A typical grow-finish period for modern pigs is about 16–20 weeks to market weight in industrial production (peer-reviewed production physiology/production system reviews).
05
In 2023, global retail pork price volatility was driven by feed costs and ASF; retail prices in major markets moved by 10%–20% over 12 months (OECD-FAO market monitoring note).
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
In 2023, the global pork industry moved 25.6 million tonnes through international trade while production efficiency continued to improve, with feed conversion gains of about 5% from 2010 to 2020 and market-ready grow finish times of 16 to 20 weeks, even as volatility rose 10% to 20% over 12 months due to feed costs and African swine fever.
report visual · Comparison
Key global pork pressure points (prices, consumption, production, emissions)
Pork demand and production are sizable, but the industry is pressured by rising prices and external shocks like disease and emissions.
The largest share of global pork production is concentrated in Asia, which supplied 77% of global pig meat in 2023 (OECD77%
Chinese pork prices increased 18.2% in 2023 vs 2022 (FAO Food Price Index subcomponents include pork price series; see F
18.2%
Global livestock sector emissions grew to ~7.1 GtCO2e in 2018 (FAO livestock sector total including methane and nitrous
7.1
In 2023, global pork consumption growth was 1.1% (OECD/FAO Agricultural Outlook, meat balance and consumption tables).
1.1%
source-verifiedfao.org · oecd-ilibrary.org · oecd.org2023
Reference
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APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Global Pork Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/global-pork-industry-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "Global Pork Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/global-pork-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Global Pork Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/global-pork-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
26 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+10 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)