Over the past three decades, pig farming has remained one of the most important components of global agricultural production. It has played a key role in providing the population with animal protein, shaped export flows in Asia and Europe, and at the same time remained vulnerable to global epidemiological risks. Experts Club analysts have studied changes in the global pig population between 1990 and 2023.

“Pig farming is an industry where economics are closely intertwined with biological risks. It is extremely profitable in stable conditions, but it instantly suffers from any disruptions in the veterinary or logistics chain,” said Maksim Urakin, PhD in Economics and founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.

In the early 1990s, the total number of pigs in the world was growing steadily, especially in China, which became the largest producer and consumer of pork. Mass industrial production, urbanization, and high demand for meat in the Asia-Pacific region stimulated capacity expansion. By the mid-2010s, the industry was at its peak: in some years, the number of pigs in the world exceeded one billion. This trend reflected the successful commercialization of the industry in China, Vietnam, Brazil, the United States, Germany, and Spain.

However, after 2018, the global pig industry faced one of the most significant challenges in recent decades — the African swine fever (ASF) pandemic. The epizootic disease, which began in China, spread to dozens of countries and led to a massive reduction in livestock numbers. In China alone, it is estimated that more than 100 million pigs were destroyed. This led to a meat shortage in the global market, rising prices, a crisis in feed chains, and a reorientation of international trade.

“After the ASF outbreak, China began to actively reform the structure of pig farming, moving from small farms to large biosecure complexes. This also affected the global market, as demand for safe and controlled meat rose sharply,” Urakin explained.

Europe, in turn, found itself under pressure from environmental legislation and growing demands for animal welfare. In the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany, there was a decline in the industry not only due to disease but also due to political decisions to reduce methane and nitrate emissions. In North America, the situation remained stable, although it was affected by tariff wars, especially in US-China relations.

Today, global pig farming has partially recovered but remains in a phase of restructuring. China is gradually rebuilding its livestock population, but on new principles — with strict control of biosecurity, genetics, and investment in innovation. At the same time, more and more countries are investing in alternative proteins — cultured meat, plant-based pork substitutes — which poses long-term risks to the traditional industry.

“The future of pig farming is a symbiosis of biotechnology, sustainable management, and veterinary reliability. Those who cannot adapt will lose the market,” concluded Maxim Urakin.
A detailed analysis of the situation on the pork market and a visualization of global trends can be found in a special video review on the Experts Club YouTube channel.

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Last modified: September 21, 2025