Collapse in pig purchase prices: the industry is repeating the crisis scenario of 2024

In Ukraine, over the past month, pork prices have sharply fallen—the decrease exceeded 30%. This refers to the purchase prices for live pigs, reports agronews.ua. For the industry, this is a critical indicator, explained meat market analyst Mykola Babenko. According to the expert, with a production cost of around 50 UAH per kilogram, the selling price previously reached 100 UAH, whereas now it has fallen to approximately 70 UAH. The main reason for the price collapse has been new outbreaks of African swine fever. Outbreaks of the disease have been recorded in five western regions of Ukraine, as well as in Chernihiv and Kyiv regions. Babenko reminded that in 2024, ASF led to the loss of up to 40% of the pig population and then prices dropped below the cost of production—less than 50 UAH per kilogram. Farmers are forced to sell meat at a loss due to the lack of compensation for the destroyed livestock, effectively for half the value.