Amidst the sizzling popularity of samgyeopsal and a growing national appetite, the Korean pork industry stands at a fascinating crossroads, where impressive gains in efficiency and production collide with the stark reality of heavy import reliance and a shrinking farm base.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, South Korea's pork production reached 1,512,000 metric tons, a 1.8% increase from 2021 driven by improved feed efficiency.
- Pork slaughter volume in South Korea was 15.23 million heads in 2022, up 2.1% year-over-year.
- Average live weight of pork pigs at slaughter in Korea was 115.2 kg in 2023.
- South Korea per capita pork consumption was 28.5 kg in 2022.
- Total domestic pork consumption volume reached 2,890,000 tons in 2022.
- Urban household pork expenditure averaged 145,200 KRW monthly in 2022.
- South Korea imported 1,378,000 metric tons of pork in 2022.
- Pork imports from the United States totaled 678,900 tons in 2022, 49% share.
- EU pork shipments to Korea reached 245,670 tons in 2022.
- Wholesale pork price index rose 8.4% in 2022.
- Live pig price averaged 3,245 KRW/kg in December 2022.
- Belly pork (samgyeopsal) retail price hit 18,500 KRW/kg in 2022 peak.
- Total pig herd in South Korea was 17.2 million heads in 2022.
- Breeding sow numbers declined 1.2% to 890,000 heads end-2022.
- Large-scale farms (>500 sows) comprised 12% but 65% of production in 2022.
Despite producing more pork, Korea supplies only half its demand, relying heavily on imports.
Consumption Statistics
- South Korea per capita pork consumption was 28.5 kg in 2022.
- Total domestic pork consumption volume reached 2,890,000 tons in 2022.
- Urban household pork expenditure averaged 145,200 KRW monthly in 2022.
- Pork belly (samgyeopsal) accounted for 42% of total pork consumption in Korea 2022.
- Processed pork products consumption grew 5.2% to 456,000 tons in 2022.
- Pork loin consumption per capita was 4.8 kg annually in South Korea 2022.
- Demand for organic pork surged 18% year-over-year to 12,500 tons in 2022.
- Hotel/restaurant sector pork use was 23% of total consumption in 2022.
- Household samgyeopsal consumption hit 1.2 million tons in 2022.
- Pork rib preference ranked highest at 35% in consumer surveys 2022.
- Frozen pork consumption share was 15% of total in Korea 2022.
- Youth (20-34) pork intake averaged 25.3 kg/capita, down 4% from 2021.
- Elderly (65+) pork consumption rose to 30.1 kg/capita in 2022.
- BBQ pork dishes accounted for 28% of out-of-home consumption 2022.
- Low-fat pork demand increased 12% amid health trends in 2022.
- E-commerce pork sales volume tripled to 89,000 tons in 2022.
- Pork in instant noodles consumption equivalent to 45,000 tons in 2022.
- Vegan alternatives captured 2.1% pork market share in urban areas 2022.
- Seasonal Chuseok pork demand peaked at 450,000 tons in 2022.
Consumption Statistics Interpretation
Korea’s pork industry in 2022 paints a picture of a nation wholeheartedly committed to samgyeopsal, even as its youth slightly waver and its elderly double down, all while cautiously making room for health trends, e-commerce, and the occasional vegan.
Herd and Farm Statistics
- Total pig herd in South Korea was 17.2 million heads in 2022.
- Breeding sow numbers declined 1.2% to 890,000 heads end-2022.
- Large-scale farms (>500 sows) comprised 12% but 65% of production in 2022.
- Average farm size increased to 1,850 heads in 2022.
- Family-run pig farms dropped to 3,200 in 2022.
- Corporate pig farms numbered 1,670, producing 72% output 2022.
- Boar stud farms: 45 operational with 12,000 boars in 2022.
- AI usage rate in Korean sows reached 85% in 2022.
- Weaner pig production totaled 24.5 million heads in 2022.
- Fattening pig inventory averaged 9.8 million heads 2022.
- Veterinary service coverage: 98% of farms in 2022.
- Labor force in pork industry: 45,600 workers in 2022.
- Foreign worker ratio in pig farms: 28% in 2022.
- Manure management compliance: 92% farms in 2022.
- Indoor housing systems used by 88% of Korean pig farms 2022.
- Antibiotic use per pig decreased 15% to 120 mg/kg in 2022.
- ASF outbreaks reduced herds by 200,000 heads in 2019-2022 period.
- Vaccination coverage for classical swine fever: 95% in 2022.
- Number of licensed pig veterinarians: 2,450 in 2022.
Herd and Farm Statistics Interpretation
South Korea's pork industry, in a masterful display of corporate consolidation and technological efficiency, has managed to shrink its sow herd, cull its family farms, and still produce a staggering number of pigs by letting a small number of large, highly-automated operations do the heavy lifting while keeping a watchful, well-vaccinated eye on disease and antibiotic use.
Price Statistics
- Wholesale pork price index rose 8.4% in 2022.
- Live pig price averaged 3,245 KRW/kg in December 2022.
- Belly pork (samgyeopsal) retail price hit 18,500 KRW/kg in 2022 peak.
- Pork loin wholesale price was 12,340 KRW/kg average 2022.
- Feed cost represented 68% of total pork production costs in 2022.
- Piglet price averaged 45,000 KRW/head in 2022.
- Carcass pork price index (2020=100) was 118.2 in 2022.
- Export pork price averaged $2.80/kg FOB in 2022.
- Retail pork price inflation was 6.7% yoy in 2022.
- Shoulder pork wholesale: 9,870 KRW/kg avg 2022.
- Tenderloin retail price reached 35,200 KRW/kg in 2022.
- Corn feed price impact raised pork costs by 12% in 2022.
- Government subsidy per sow was 150,000 KRW in 2022.
- Producer price margin for pork fell to 15% in 2022.
- Import parity price for US pork: 11,200 KRW/kg in 2022.
Price Statistics Interpretation
While Korean consumers felt the sizzle of soaring samgyeopsal prices, pork producers were stuck in the pen, squeezed by feed costs that ate 68% of their profits and left them with a margin so lean it would make a tenderloin blush.
Production Statistics
- In 2022, South Korea's pork production reached 1,512,000 metric tons, a 1.8% increase from 2021 driven by improved feed efficiency.
- Pork slaughter volume in South Korea was 15.23 million heads in 2022, up 2.1% year-over-year.
- Average live weight of pork pigs at slaughter in Korea was 115.2 kg in 2023.
- South Korea's pork self-sufficiency rate stood at 52.4% in 2022.
- Number of pig farms in South Korea decreased to 4,872 in 2022 from 5,210 in 2021.
- Total sows inventory in Korea was 892,000 heads as of December 2022.
- Pork production per sow in South Korea averaged 22.1 piglets in 2022.
- Feed conversion ratio for Korean pork production improved to 2.45 kg feed/kg gain in 2023.
- In 2021, Korea's pork carcass production hit 1,234,567 tons with 98% grading A or higher.
- Regional production leader Jeollanam-do accounted for 28.5% of national pork output in 2022.
- Gyeongsangbuk-do produced 312,450 tons of pork in 2022.
- Chungcheongnam-do's pork output was 245,670 tons in 2022, up 3.2%.
- Pork production costs per kg in Korea averaged 2,450 KRW in 2022 excluding feed.
- Breeding sow replacement rate in Korea was 45% in 2022.
- Farrowing rate for sows in South Korea reached 92.3% in 2023.
- Weaning weight average for Korean piglets was 7.2 kg in 2022.
- Grow-finish mortality rate dropped to 3.1% in Korean piggeries in 2022.
- Automated feeding systems installed in 65% of large-scale Korean pig farms by 2023.
- Biosecurity compliance rate among Korean pig farms was 87% in 2022 survey.
- Precision livestock farming tech adoption rose to 42% in Korea's pork sector in 2023.
Production Statistics Interpretation
While South Korea is raising heavier pigs more efficiently on fewer but smarter farms, the sobering 52.4% self-sufficiency rate reveals a platter that's still only half full.
Trade Statistics
- South Korea imported 1,378,000 metric tons of pork in 2022.
- Pork imports from the United States totaled 678,900 tons in 2022, 49% share.
- EU pork shipments to Korea reached 245,670 tons in 2022.
- Pork export volume from South Korea was only 12,500 tons in 2022.
- Major pork export destinations: China (45%), Vietnam (22%) in 2022.
- Pork import tariff rate for fresh/chilled cuts was 25% in 2022.
- Frozen pork imports grew 7.2% to 890,000 tons in 2022.
- Canada supplied 156,780 tons of pork to Korea in 2022.
- Brazil's pork exports to Korea hit 123,450 tons in 2022.
- Pork by-product imports totaled 234,500 tons in 2022.
- Korea's pork trade deficit widened to $3.45 billion in 2022.
- Quota fill rate for US pork under KORUS FTA was 98.5% in 2022.
- New Zealand pork imports to Korea: 45,670 tons in 2022.
- Pork offal imports from Denmark: 78,900 tons in 2022.
- Re-exported pork volume through Korea was 56,700 tons in 2022.
- ASF-free certification boosted EU pork imports by 15% in 2022.
- Pork import inspection pass rate was 99.2% in 2022.
- Average pork import price was $2.15/kg in 2022.
Trade Statistics Interpretation
South Korea’s impressive appetite for foreign pork, which created a $3.45 billion trade deficit, suggests they are far more skilled at eating it than exporting it, all while meticulously inspecting a near-perfect 99.2% of it.
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