The USDA's December 2022 Meat Report shows a growth in the US breeding herd for the first time in nine quarters, with a 0.5% increase compared to the same period in 2021. This is expected to boost pig production in the second half of 2023. However, live hog prices have declined after remaining above the average for the year, and demand for bacon and ribs has fallen. Despite this, strong exports, especially to China, Korea, and the Dominican Republic, have boosted the outlook for 2023. Rabobank predicts a 0.2% increase in pork production and a 4% increase in pork exports in volume in 2023, if exports to Mexico remain stable and China recovers.