Spain: The Spanish pork sector under pressure amid the resurgence of African swine fever

The Spanish agri-food sector began the year 2025 with great optimism. Economic forecasts indicated that the industry was on track to repeat the record agri-food trade surplus achieved the previous year. The climate of confidence was comparable to the traditional lighting of Madrid's Christmas lights, which brighten the country's winter months. However, just a few days after the lighting of the "Naviluz" Christmas lights, that optimism was shattered by the announcement of an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) among wild boars in Catalonia on November 27, 2025. Outbreak in Catalonia: Thirteen cases and a sealed-off zone A week after the first two infected wild boars were officially confirmed and reported to the European Commission, the total number of affected animals rose to 13. All cases were detected in a strictly controlled 20-kilometer radius around Bellaterra, near Barcelona, where the first carcasses were found. Catalonia is known for its density of pig herds and the ...