EU Share of Pork Global Exports Continues Decline

Oct 16, 2023

European Union (EU) pork exports are expected to decline 25% in 2024 compared to 2019 and account for 15% of production, down from 19% in 2019, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service reports in the latest Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade report. In addition to growing regulatory burdens, the report notes EU swine producers continue to face challenges controlling the impact of African swine fever (ASF), which has resulted in a reduced swine herd and limited exports to some markets.

Meanwhile, global production in 2024 is forecast virtually unchanged year over year at 115.5 million tons, the report says. Lower production in the EU and China is mostly offset by larger production in Brazil, Vietnam and the U.S. EU pork production is forecast 2% lower year over year to 21.2 million tons.

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Video: Next Mile Ep 1: Navigating Disease Prevention

The Next Mile, host Dr. Meredith Petersen, Director of Swine Health at the National Pork Board, sits down with Dr. Cara Haden, Director of Animal Welfare and Biosecurity at Pipestone, to unpack the National Swine Health Strategy and what it means for producers across the country.

Meredith walks through how the strategy came together: a producer-led effort launched in March 2025 in response to input gathered at the National Pork Industry Forum, built around two core goals, keeping foreign and emerging diseases out of the U.S. herd and reducing the impact of domestic diseases already here, including long-term elimination targets for PRRSV and PEDV.

Cara then brings the conversation down to the farm level, sharing how Pipestone scores biosecurity across seven key areas: air, feed, water, people, supplies, trucks and pigs, plus everything within the farm perimeter. She and Meredith dig into why farm leadership and daily culture, not just protocols on paper, ultimately determine whether biosecurity efforts stick.

Whether you're a producer, veterinarian, or anyone invested in herd health, this episode offers a grounded look at where the industry is headed and what everyday habits make the biggest difference.