Pig outlook: Bears maintain control over lean hog futures in the global market, ASF vaccine news, Smithfield ends 26 contracts

February lean hog futures prices continue to trend lower on the daily chart. The CME lean hog index is presently at $69.60 (as of Dec. 4). The preliminary calculation puts the index down an additional 17 cents to $69.43 for today. December futures remain around $2.00 below the CME index. The outlook remains bearish for the hog market as supplies are nearing annual highs. After Christmas, demand for hams tends to drop sharply until the Easter Holiday. On the positive side, fresh pork prices remaining above $80.00 despite abundant pork supplies suggests good US retailer pork demand. Particularly the vaccine produced by AVAC Vietnam JSC. This decision comes after Vietnam announced plans to export 5 million doses of its ASF vaccine. WOAH expressed concerns that AVAC Vietnam has not shared sufficient data with international researchers and organizations, despite the company asserting the safety and effectiveness of their vaccine. Gregorio Torres, head of the science department at WOAH, ...