Japan: Forecast of pork production and trade in 2026

Source: 3tres3.com Japan's total pig herd at the beginning of 2026 is expected to remain almost unchanged from the previous year, at 8.65 million. Although the number of farms raising pigs continues to decrease annually due to aging farmers and a lack of successors, some large food companies are investing in expanding their scale at their own farms. Therefore, the number of sows at the beginning of 2026 is expected to remain stable compared to the same period last year, at around 755,000. The production of pork and the number of slaughters in 2026 are forecast to remain unchanged from 2025, at 1.27 million tons CWE and 16.05 million head, respectively. Pork consumption remains strong at 2.765 million tons CWE, thanks to price advantages in the context of inflation. The increase in demand from households and the food service sector has offset the decline in processed pork products, which have risen in price. Retailers are increasingly prioritizing the use of imported frozen pork to ...