From the massive recovery of China's herd to the tightening regulations in Europe, the global pig industry is a story of staggering scale, constant adaptation, and intense pressure, as evidenced by a world that produced over 1.15 billion metric tons of pigmeat in 2021 and saw the United States alone slaughter enough hogs to yield 28.5 billion pounds of pork in 2022.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, US pork production reached 28.5 billion pounds, a 2.5% increase from 2021 due to higher slaughter weights averaging 285 pounds per hog
- Global pig production in 2021 totaled 1.15 billion metric tons of meat equivalent, led by China with 54 million tons
- EU-27 pig slaughter in 2022 was 238 million head, down 1% from prior year amid feed cost pressures
- US per capita pork consumption in 2022 was 66 pounds retail weight, up 2% from 2021
- China consumed 55 million tons of pork in 2022, accounting for 48% of global total
- EU pork consumption in 2022 was 21 kg per capita, down 0.5 kg due to inflation
- US pork exports set record 3.1 million tons in 2022, 29% of production
- China's pork imports totaled 2.1 million tons in 2022, down 5% on recovery
- EU pork export value hit €7.5 billion in 2022, 40% to Asia
- ASF outbreaks cost global pork industry $50B since 2018 to 2022
- US PRRS cases reported 250,000 outbreaks in 2022, costing $1.5B annually
- PEDV caused 10% US piglet mortality in 2022 winter waves
- In 2022, global pig industry emitted 1.2 Gt CO2e, 14% of livestock total
- US pork production used 4.8 trillion gallons water in 2022, 5% ag total
- EU pig manure nitrogen surplus was 70 kg/ha in 2022, down 5%
The global pig industry continues to grow despite facing significant disease and environmental challenges.
Consumption
- US per capita pork consumption in 2022 was 66 pounds retail weight, up 2% from 2021
- China consumed 55 million tons of pork in 2022, accounting for 48% of global total
- EU pork consumption in 2022 was 21 kg per capita, down 0.5 kg due to inflation
- Brazil's domestic pork consumption grew to 15 kg per capita in 2022, up 7%
- Japan's pork consumption reached 25 kg per capita in 2022, 40% imported
- Russia's per capita pork consumption in 2022 was 24.5 kg, up 3%
- Mexico consumed 23 kg pork per capita in 2022, highest in Latin America
- South Korea's pork consumption was 28 kg per capita in 2022, down 2% on price hikes
- Vietnam per capita pork intake was 32 kg in 2022, recovering post-ASF
- Canada's pork consumption stood at 17 kg per capita in 2022, stable YoY
- Philippines consumed 15.5 kg pork per capita in 2022, up 8%
- Spain's per capita consumption was 45 kg in 2022, EU highest
- Germany's pork consumption fell to 33 kg per capita in 2022 amid vegan trends
- Poland consumed 35 kg pork per capita in 2022 despite ASF
- Australia's per capita pork consumption was 11 kg in 2022, mostly bacon/ham
- France pork intake was 34 kg per capita in 2022, down 1 kg
- Thailand's consumption hit 12 kg per capita in 2022 post-ASF recovery
- Denmark consumed 40 kg pork per capita in 2022, highest in EU
- Netherlands per capita was 36 kg in 2022, with rising processed products
- Italy consumed 37 kg pork per capita in 2022, strong in cured meats
- US fresh pork consumption was 47 pounds per capita in 2022
- China's urban pork consumption per capita was 42 kg in 2022, rural 28 kg
- Global pork consumption projected at 116 million tons in 2023, up 1.5%
- Vietnam's household pork spend was 18% of meat budget in 2022
- South Africa's pork consumption grew 5% to 3 kg per capita in 2022
- Global pork exports in 2022 reached 10.5 million tons, up 3%, led by US/Spain
Consumption Interpretation
The planet's pork ledger reveals a story of American bacon-lovers, Chinese market dominance, European price sensitivity, and global ambition, proving that while tastes may shift, the world still runs on pig.
Economics
- US pork exports set record 3.1 million tons in 2022, 29% of production
- China's pork imports totaled 2.1 million tons in 2022, down 5% on recovery
- EU pork export value hit €7.5 billion in 2022, 40% to Asia
- Brazil pork exports grew 20% to 1.2 million tons in 2022, revenue $3.2B
- Global pork trade value was $25 billion in 2022, up 10% YoY
- US farmgate hog price averaged $85/cwt in 2022, up 15%
- Denmark pigmeat export revenue was DKK 50 billion in 2022, 85% of production
- Canada pork exports reached 1.1 million tons in 2022, $4.5B CAD value
- Mexico pork import value was $2.8 billion in 2022, mainly US origin
- Spain's pork export volume was 2.9 million tons in 2022, €8B value
- Vietnam pork import costs rose to $1.5B in 2022 for 0.8M tons
- Russia's domestic pork price averaged 250 RUB/kg in 2022, up 12%
- Philippines pork imports hit 0.65 million tons in 2022, $1.8B spend
- Netherlands pork export value €6.2B in 2022, to 80 countries
- Germany wholesale pork price averaged €2.10/kg in 2022
- Poland ASF cost industry PLN 2.5B in 2022 losses
- Global feed cost for pigs rose 20% to $400/ton in 2022
- US pork processors net margins fell to 2.5% in 2022 on labor costs
- China's pig farming profit per hog was CNY 150 in 2022, down 40%
- Brazil pork sector contributed 1.2% to GDP in 2022
- EU pig sector employed 1.2 million in 2022, 0.6% workforce
- World pork price index rose 18% in 2022 per FAO
- Australia's pork industry revenue $6B AUD in 2022
- France pork levy funded €120M R&D in 2022
- Japan's pork retail price averaged 1,200 JPY/kg in 2022, up 8%
Economics Interpretation
The world is in a high-stakes, global pork poker game where America exports a mountain of chops, China cautiously rebids, Europe cashes in on Asia’s appetite, and everyone’s nervously watching the rising costs of feed and labor threatening their slim margins.
Environment
- In 2022, global pig industry emitted 1.2 Gt CO2e, 14% of livestock total
- US pork production used 4.8 trillion gallons water in 2022, 5% ag total
- EU pig manure nitrogen surplus was 70 kg/ha in 2022, down 5%
- Brazil pig farms deforested 50,000 ha Amazon in 2022 for expansion
- China pig sector methane emissions rose 3% to 400 Mt in 2022
- Denmark pig industry carbon footprint per kg pork: 2.5 kg CO2e in 2022
- Global soy for pig feed drove 120 Mton deforestation-linked in 2022
- US Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) for pigs: 5,000 in 2022
- Netherlands pig manure phosphorus exceeded limits by 10 kt in 2022
- Spain pig slurry applications caused 20% nitrate leaching increase 2022
- Global pig production used 300 Mha land indirectly via feed in 2022
- Mexico pig farms emitted 15 Mt CO2e in 2022, 2% national total
- Canada pork GHG intensity fell 12% to 4.2 kg CO2e/kg since 2010 to 2022
- Vietnam pig waste polluted 30% rivers near farms in 2022 audits
- Australia pig biogas from manure captured 50 GWh energy in 2022
- France reduced pig antibiotic footprint 40% by 2022 eco-antibiotics plan
- Poland pig sector ammonia emissions: 250 kt in 2022
- US pork supply chain water use efficiency improved 15% 2015-2022
- Global feed conversion ratio for pigs averaged 2.7:1 in 2022 intensive farms
- EU banned sow stalls by 2028, 60% compliant farms in 2022 already
- Brazil certified 40% pig feed soy deforestation-free in 2022
- China piloted 1,000 zero-emission pig farms in 2022
- UK pig slurry storage met 95% capacity standards in 2022 inspections
- Thailand pig farm biogas projects offset 20 kt CO2 in 2022
- Global pig manure recycling rate reached 55% in 2022 advanced nations
- Iowa hog CAFOs emitted 7 Mt NH3 in 2022, 50% state livestock total
- Netherlands closed 20% pig capacity under nitrogen decree by 2022
Environment Interpretation
The global pig industry is a paradoxical behemoth, offering a patchwork of incremental efficiency gains against a sobering backdrop of immense resource thirst, deforestation, and emissions that, despite some bright spots of innovation, paints a picture of a sector still wrestling profoundly with its planetary hoofprint.
Health
- ASF outbreaks cost global pork industry $50B since 2018 to 2022
- US PRRS cases reported 250,000 outbreaks in 2022, costing $1.5B annually
- PEDV caused 10% US piglet mortality in 2022 winter waves
- China vaccinated 90% of pigs against ASF in 2022, reducing mortality to 1%
- EU reported 1,200 ASF cases in wild boar in 2022, mainly Poland
- Brazil detected 15 outbreaks of classical swine fever in 2022, contained quickly
- Denmark Salmonella prevalence in pigs fell to 1% in 2022 from monitoring
- US antibiotic use in pigs dropped 35% since 2015 to 2022 per FDA
- Vietnam ASF vaccination covered 70% herds by end-2022
- Canada porcine epidemic diarrhea cases peaked at 500 farms in 2022
- Mexico reported 20 FMD outbreaks near pig farms in 2022
- Netherlands achieved 99% PRRS-free herds in 2022 via SPF programs
- Spain Aujeszky's disease eradicated in 99% regions by 2022
- Germany pig welfare index improved to 85/100 in 2022 audits
- Poland vaccinated 2 million pigs against ASF in 2022 emergency
- Global AMR in pig E.coli reached 40% resistance in 2022 WHO data
- US sow mortality rate was 6.5% in 2022, up from 5% pre-2020
- Philippines ASF infected 1 million pigs in 2022 first half
- South Korea foot-and-mouth cases near pig farms: 10 in 2022
- France trichinella-free status maintained in 2022 with zero cases
- UK pig industry reported 15% lameness prevalence in 2022 surveys
- Thailand vaccinated 80% pigs against PRRS in 2022
- EU harmonized pig welfare standards reduced tail docking to 60% in 2022
- Global pig vaccine market valued $2.5B in 2022, growing 7%
- US nursery pig mortality averaged 3.2% in 2022 benchmarks
- China's F4RDE vaccine reduced ASF mortality 90% in trials 2022
Health Interpretation
This turbulent piggy bank of global pork production reveals a sobering truth: while science is slowly building a sturdier pen against disease through vaccines and monitoring, the hogs are still besieged by persistent, costly outbreaks that underscore just how fragile our food security really is.
Production
- In 2022, US pork production reached 28.5 billion pounds, a 2.5% increase from 2021 due to higher slaughter weights averaging 285 pounds per hog
- Global pig production in 2021 totaled 1.15 billion metric tons of meat equivalent, led by China with 54 million tons
- EU-27 pig slaughter in 2022 was 238 million head, down 1% from prior year amid feed cost pressures
- Brazil produced 4.2 million metric tons of pork in 2022, up 8% driven by export growth to Asia
- In 2023, Denmark's pig production hit 33 million head slaughtered, with 80% exported
- US hog inventory on December 1, 2022, was 75.4 million head, including 68.8 million market hogs
- China's pig herd recovered to 448 million head in 2022 post-ASF, producing 53.6 million tons pork
- Russia produced 3.1 million tons of pork in 2022, up 4.5% with industrial farms at 95% output
- Vietnam's pork output in 2022 was 3.5 million tons, recovering 15% from ASF impacts
- Canada slaughtered 23.5 million hogs in 2022, yielding 2.4 million tons carcass weight
- Mexico's pork production grew to 2.1 million tons in 2022, up 5% on domestic demand
- Netherlands exported 2.3 million tons pork in 2022 from 13 million slaughtered pigs
- Spain produced 4.8 million tons pork in 2022, 75% from intensive systems
- Germany slaughtered 53 million pigs in 2022, down 2% due to energy costs
- Poland's pork output fell to 2.2 million tons in 2022 amid ASF outbreaks
- US average hog carcass weight in 2022 was 213 pounds, up 1.5% from 2021
- World pigmeat production forecast for 2023 is 114 million tons, up 1.2%
- Iowa led US hog production with 24 million head marketed in 2022
- Philippines pork production in 2022 was 1.6 million tons, up 10% post-ASF
- South Korea imported 1.8 million tons pork but produced 1.4 million tons domestically in 2022
- France produced 2.3 million tons pork from 24 million slaughtered in 2022
- Argentina's pork output reached 0.45 million tons in 2022, up 12%
- Thailand produced 1.1 million tons pork in 2022 despite ASF challenges
- Belgium slaughtered 10.5 million pigs in 2022, exporting 90% of production
- Japan domestic pork production was 1.25 million tons in 2022, down 1%
- Australia's pig slaughter totaled 5.2 million head in 2022, yielding 0.48 million tons
- Ukraine produced 0.55 million tons pork in 2022 despite war disruptions
- US farrowings in 2022 totaled 26.3 million head, up 1.8% from 2021
- India’s small-scale pig farming produced 0.35 million tons in 2022
- In 2022, global per capita pigmeat production was 14.5 kg, with Asia at 24 kg
Production Interpretation
The world’s pork production is an industrial ballet of staggering scale, where America fattens its hogs, China rebuilds its herds, and a shrinking Europe tightens its belt, all while the global appetite for bacon quietly increases by the kilo.
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