US hog inventory falls down by 1% – NASS

USA – The United States had 74.5 million hogs and pigs on farms as of September 1, according to the latest Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report from the US Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

The figure is 1 percent lower compared with the same period in 2024 but represents a 1 percent gain from June 1, 2025.

Of the total herd, 68.5 million were market hogs intended for slaughter while 5.93 million were kept for breeding purposes.

Between June and August, producers weaned 34.1 million pigs, marking a 3 percent decline from the same three months of the previous year.

From June through September, the average number of pigs weaned per litter stood at 11.82.

Looking ahead, hog farmers are planning for 2.86 million sows to farrow between September and November 2025, followed by 2.82 million sows scheduled to farrow from December through February 2026.

Iowa remains the leading state in hog production with 25.1 million animals, while Minnesota follows with 8.75 million and North Carolina ranks third with 7.80 million.

To compile the report, NASS gathered data from 4,479 producers during the first half of September through online submissions, mail, phone calls, and in-person interviews.

UK pig meat trade moving upward

While the US industry shows mixed trends, UK pig meat exports grew in the first half of 2025, reaching 156,400 tonnes.

This represents an increase of 5.2 percent, or 7,700 tonnes, compared with the same months in 2024, and 3 percent above shipments recorded in 2023, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

The expansion is linked mainly to offal exports, which rose 6.5 percent year on year, alongside fresh and frozen pork shipments, which climbed 5 percent.

Sausage exports added a smaller gain of 400 tonnes, while bacon exports slipped by 300 tonnes and processed pig meat volumes held steady compared with last year.

Offal shipments reached a record 74,700 tonnes between January and June and now make up nearly half of the UK’s pig meat trade.

China purchased 62 percent of this category, followed by the EU27 with 20 percent, the Philippines with 9 percent, and the Dominican Republic with 2 percent.

The rise in Chinese imports has been tied to stronger domestic demand and reduced US access, creating space for other suppliers.

Meanwhile, shipments of fresh and frozen pork recovered to 65,000 tonnes after two years of decline, although the total still falls short of earlier peaks.

The EU continues to be the main buyer of this product, with 30,000 tonnes delivered so far this year, mainly to Germany, Ireland, and France.

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