While the global pig herd numbers in the billions, understanding the modern swine industry requires looking far beyond simple headcounts to a complex web of production, economics, and global impact.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the United States produced 148.4 million head of market hogs slaughtered
- Global swine production in 2021 was approximately 1.1 billion head
- Iowa led U.S. states with 24.5 million hogs and pigs inventory in 2023
- The U.S. hog operations numbered 66,100 in 2022
- U.S. pork industry contributed $26.5 billion to GDP in 2022
- Average U.S. hog farm cash receipts were $25.7 billion in 2022
- ASF outbreak cost China $110 billion in losses 2018-2022
- PEDV caused 10% U.S. hog mortality increase in 2013-2014
- PRRS annual U.S. economic loss $664 million
- U.S. swine CAFOs emit 2.1 million tons NH3 annually
- Global swine manure produces 1.5 billion tons N2O equivalent yearly
- Iowa hog farms contribute 50% of state's phosphorus runoff
- U.S. pork exports reached 7.3 billion pounds in 2022
- China imported 5.9 million metric tons pork in 2022
- EU pork exports totaled 2.2 million tons in 2022
The global swine industry is vast and economically vital despite facing disease and environmental challenges.
Consumption
- World per capita pork consumption 12.5 kg in 2022
- U.S. per capita pork consumption 51.1 lbs in 2022
- China pork consumption 32 kg per capita in 2022
- EU average pork intake 32.5 kg per person yearly 2022
- Brazil per capita pork consumption 15.2 kg in 2022
- Canada consumed 20 kg pork per capita in 2022
- Mexico pork consumption 22 kg per capita rising 2022
- Vietnam per capita pork use 27 kg in 2022
- Russia consumed 25 kg pork per person 2022
- Philippines per capita 15 kg pork high dependency 2022
- Spain leads EU with 45 kg per capita pork 2022
- Denmark pork consumption 40 kg per capita 2022
- Netherlands 35 kg per capita pork intake 2022
- Germany 38 kg per capita pork consumption 2022
- France per capita pork 28 kg declining slightly 2022
- Japan pork consumption 25 kg per capita stable 2022
- South Korea 30 kg per capita pork high 2022
- U.S. bacon consumption 18 lbs per capita 2022
Consumption Interpretation
The world map of pork on our forks paints a clear picture: while the global average suggests a casual acquaintance, nations like Spain and the U.S. are in deeply committed relationships, with the latter even pledging a special allegiance to bacon.
Economics
- The U.S. hog operations numbered 66,100 in 2022
- U.S. pork industry contributed $26.5 billion to GDP in 2022
- Average U.S. hog farm cash receipts were $25.7 billion in 2022
- Pork industry supported 573,000 jobs in the U.S. in 2022
- China pork production value reached 1.5 trillion CNY in 2022
- EU pork sector generated €150 billion turnover in 2022
- Brazil swine industry export value was $2.8 billion in 2022
- U.S. pork wholesale value averaged $1.12 per lb in 2022
- Iowa pork industry impact was $7.3 billion annually
- Global pork market size valued at $233 billion in 2022
- U.S. hog prices averaged $85.50 per cwt in 2022
- North Carolina pork economic contribution $3.2 billion in 2022
- Russia pork self-sufficiency reached 95% in 2022
- Canada pork farm receipts totaled CAD 3.8 billion in 2022
- Spanish pork industry employed 250,000 people in 2022
- U.S. pork exports generated $7.1 billion in 2022
- Denmark pig industry contributed 5.5% to ag GDP in 2022
- Netherlands pork production value €4.2 billion in 2022
- German pork sector turnover €25 billion in 2022
- Vietnam swine industry value VND 100 trillion in 2022
- Mexico pork consumption expenditure $5.6 billion in 2022
- Philippines hog raising contributed 12% to livestock GDP in 2022
- France pork market revenue €8.5 billion in 2022
- Global pork price index rose 15% in 2022
- U.S. swine industry farm equity $150 billion in 2022
Economics Interpretation
While the global pork industry is an economic behemoth measured in trillions, at its root it’s still a story of turning one farmer's hog into another nation's bacon, with every step along the way generating jobs, revenue, and occasionally, a reason for international price hikes.
Environment
- U.S. swine CAFOs emit 2.1 million tons NH3 annually
- Global swine manure produces 1.5 billion tons N2O equivalent yearly
- Iowa hog farms contribute 50% of state's phosphorus runoff
- China swine industry responsible for 10% national GHG emissions 2022
- EU pig production uses 12% of agricultural water
- Brazil swine expansion deforested 200,000 ha in Amazon 2010-2020
- U.S. pork lagoons hold 4 billion gallons manure
- North Carolina swine farms linked to 1,500 waterway impairments
- Global swine feed uses 250 million tons soy annually
- Denmark manure biogas plants process 40% of swine waste 2022
- Netherlands pig farms reduced N surplus 55% since 1990
- Spain swine slurry applications cause 20% nitrate pollution
- Canada hog operations emit 8% national methane from enteric
- Vietnam swine waste pollutes 30% of Mekong Delta waters
- Mexico CAFOs cover 15% of swine production with waste management
- France pig manure N2O emissions 1.2 million tons CO2eq 2022
- U.S. swine carbon footprint 4.8 kg CO2eq per kg pork
- Germany biogas from swine manure generates 2 TWh electricity yearly
Environment Interpretation
While we raise our bacon, we also raise a stink, with a global hoofprint that soils our water, clears our forests, and fills our air, proving that the cost of cheap pork is anything but.
Health
- ASF outbreak cost China $110 billion in losses 2018-2022
- PEDV caused 10% U.S. hog mortality increase in 2013-2014
- PRRS annual U.S. economic loss $664 million
- Global ASF cases reported in 35 countries since 2018
- U.S. hog vaccination coverage for circovirus 85% in 2022
- EU swine influenza vaccination rate 40% of herds
- Brazil reported 120 ASF outbreaks in wild boar 2022
- Vietnam culled 6 million pigs due to ASF in 2019
- U.S. antibiotic use in swine decreased 35% from 2015-2022
- China rebuilt swine herd post-ASF to 95% capacity by 2022
- Russia vaccinated 70% of pigs against ASF in 2022
- Canada porcine epidemic diarrhea cases dropped 50% since 2015
- Spain Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae prevalence 60% in farms 2022
- Denmark achieved PRRS-free status in 70% herds by 2022
- Netherlands Salmonella in pigs at 1.2% in 2022
- Germany APP outbreaks in 15% of pig farms 2022
- Philippines classical swine fever vaccination 80% coverage 2022
- Mexico TGE virus incidence near zero due to vaccines 2022
- France swine dysentery cases reduced 40% with biosecurity 2022
- Global swine health R&D investment $1.2 billion annually
- U.S. swine welfare audits show 95% compliance with space standards 2022
Health Interpretation
The global swine industry is a high-stakes game of economic whack-a-mole, where a billion-dollar loss in China from one virus is met with a frantic, multi-pronged global counterattack of vaccines, culls, and biosecurity that shows both our devastating vulnerabilities and our stubborn, expensive resilience.
Production
- In 2022, the United States produced 148.4 million head of market hogs slaughtered
- Global swine production in 2021 was approximately 1.1 billion head
- Iowa led U.S. states with 24.5 million hogs and pigs inventory in 2023
- China's swine herd numbered 448.1 million head as of December 2022
- EU-27 swine production totaled 218 million head in 2022
- Brazil produced 44.5 million metric tons of pork in 2022
- North Carolina had 9.7 million hogs inventory in 2023
- World pigmeat production forecast for 2023 is 112.6 million metric tons
- Minnesota's hog inventory was 8.8 million head in 2023
- Russia produced 5.8 million tons of pork in 2022
- Illinois hog inventory stood at 5.5 million head in 2023
- Vietnam's swine population was 27.5 million head in 2022
- Indiana had 4.3 million hogs in 2023 inventory
- Mexico slaughtered 17.2 million head of hogs in 2022
- Nebraska's hog inventory was 3.7 million head in 2023
- Philippines swine herd was 16.3 million head in 2022
- Ohio hog inventory reached 2.6 million head in 2023
- Canada produced 13.4 million head slaughtered in 2022
- Kansas had 2.3 million hogs inventory in 2023
- South Korea's swine production was 18.5 million head in 2022
- Missouri hog inventory was 2.1 million head in 2023
- Spain produced 4.7 million tons of pork in 2022
- South Dakota had 1.8 million hogs in 2023
- Germany slaughtered 55.2 million pigs in 2022
- Oklahoma inventory was 2.2 million hogs in 2023
- Denmark exported equivalent of 33 million pigs in 2022
- Wisconsin had 780,000 hogs in 2023 inventory
- Netherlands produced 13.1 million pigs slaughtered in 2022
- Michigan inventory was 1.1 million head in 2023
- France had 24.8 million pigs slaughtered in 2022
Production Interpretation
The global pork industry, led by a truly staggering Chinese appetite, proves that while Iowa may be the king of American pig pens, the planet's collective oink is a symphony of scales, from Brazil's metric tonnage to Denmark's export prowess, all ultimately answering humanity's insatiable demand for bacon.
Trade
- U.S. pork exports reached 7.3 billion pounds in 2022
- China imported 5.9 million metric tons pork in 2022
- EU pork exports totaled 2.2 million tons in 2022
- Brazil pork exports grew 25% to 1.2 million tons in 2022
- Mexico imported 1.1 million tons pork from U.S. in 2022
- Canada exported 2.1 million tons pork globally in 2022
- U.S. top pork export markets: Mexico 28%, China 20% in 2022
- Spain pork exports hit 3.1 million tons record in 2022
- Denmark exported pork to 130 countries worth €4.5 billion 2022
- Netherlands pork trade surplus €1.2 billion in 2022
- Vietnam imported 200,000 tons pork in 2022 post-ASF
- Russia pork imports fell to 100,000 tons in 2022
- Philippines pork imports reached 500,000 tons in 2022
- Germany exported 1.5 million tons pork in 2022
- France pork imports 800,000 tons mainly from Germany 2022
- Global pork trade volume 10.5 million tons in 2022
- Japan imported 800,000 tons U.S. pork in 2022
- South Korea pork imports 1 million tons with U.S. 40% share 2022
- Argentina exported 50,000 tons pork in 2022
- U.S. pork export value per head $50 in 2022
Trade Interpretation
The global pork market is a high-stakes game of international hog-holding where everyone's trying to bring home the bacon, whether they're exporting it, importing it, or counting the profits on the hoof.
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