Forecast of the Chinese pig farming industry in 2026

China's pork production is expected to stabilize and imports are forecast to decrease slightly in 2026.

Source: 3tres3.com Pig production in China is expected to remain stable in 2026 with a total of 709.5 million piglets. Although the sow herd in the first four months of 2025 is higher than the same period in 2024, the expected weak pig prices in the second half of the year may reduce the profit margins of farmers, prompting the withdrawal of small-scale farms and discouraging the rebreeding of sows. The average sow herd in 2025 is expected to remain nearly unchanged from the previous year, laying the foundation for stable pig production in 2026. The forecast for pig breed imports is expected to increase slightly in the second half of 2026, following the low import levels in 2025. Large-scale farmers continue to prioritize genetic improvement as part of their efforts to increase the number of weaned pigs per sow per year, thereby maintaining stable demand for high-quality breeding stock. As the domestic core breeding system is still in development, imports will continue to play a ...