The pork sector: 9.000 million under scrutiny due to the plague

The pig farming business is under the spotlight following the detection of several outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in Catalonia because, above all, it generates fear for a foreign trade that already bills close to 9,000 million euros a year. This figure already gives an idea of the economic relevance that this livestock has acquired for the general industry and, in particular, the food industry to the point that Spain remains the second world exporter and the first in the European Union. The economic keys that outline the Spanish pig sector: In the period from January to August 2025, exports of the Spanish pig sector (excluding live animals) have increased in volume and remained in value (1.7% and 0.0%, respectively), compared to the same period of 2024, standing at 1.8 million tons and 5,771.2 million euros. The trade balance in that period showed a surplus of +5,400 million. China is the main client: from January to August it bought from Spain almost 362,000 tons and ...