APAC Pork Market
Pork is the cornerstone of diets across Asia, embedded in everything from China’s red-braised pork belly to Japan’s tonkatsu and South Korea’s grilled samgyeopsal.
The Asia Pacific (APAC) region is anchored by China, the world’s largest pork producer and consumer. Surrounding it are smaller-scaled producers like Vietnam and the Philippines, and major importers like Japan and South Korea, all influenced by evolving consumer tastes and retail formats.
APAC: Pork consumption trends
Northeast Asia: Pork consumption in APAC shifts with climate and culture. In Northeast Asia, demand typically rises in winter, as pork features in hot pot, braised dishes, and soups across China, South Korea, and Japan. While red meats like beef and lamb are rising in demand, pork remains central. During summer, lighter meals and seafood slightly ease pork intake.
Southeast Asia: In many parts of this region, consumption stays steady year-round, with festive surges during Lunar New Year, Christmas, and local holidays, when pork is a key part of traditional dishes.
China: The world's largest pork producer
As the world's biggest pork producer, China generated 57.06 million metric tons (mt) of pork in 2024, down 1.5% from 57.94 million mt in 2023, which was the second-highest on record.
China’s pork industry has shifted toward large-scale, integrated farms with stronger disease control following years of African Swine Flu (ASF) disruption. China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data showed that total pig output rose to 194.76 million head in Q1 2025, an increase of 200,000 head over the same period in 2024, reversing a 2.2% decline in early 2024.
In volume, pork production rose by 1.2% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 16.02 million tons. As of the end of March, the national pig herd stood at 417.31 million, up by 8.81 million or 2.2% y-o-y. The sow herd reached 40.39 million, a 470,000 head increase.
Despite reduced import reliance, China continues to lead global pork trade as the single largest market. In Q1 2025, imports grew by 3.6% y-o-y to 350,000 mt, led by key suppliers such as Spain and Brazil. In 2024, total imports stood at 1.05 million mt, with a value of 2.09 billion.
The Chinese preference in pork cuts is complementary to that of the Western preferred pork cuts. Where the Western consumer prefers lean cuts, the Chinese prefers fattier ribs, offals, and shoulder cuts.
However, consumption has been curtailed in recent years as the economy stagnates, leaving a surplus that has exerted downward pressure on prices.
Vietnam: APAC's second largest producer
Vietnam ranked second in APAC with 3.79 million mt produced in the 2024/25 marketing year and accounting of 3% of global output, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Modernization in slaughter and biosecurity has supported stable domestic supply. The country’s vibrant street food culture and festive demand drive consumption of a wide range of pork dishes.
Vietnam is typically self-sufficient in pork but has acted as a net importer during supply shortfalls amid ASF outbreaks since 2019. In 2024, Vietnam imported 107,857 mt of pork, mainly from Brazil and Russia.
Pork production is expected to rise further following JBS’s March 2025 announcement to build two processing plants in Vietnam.
Japan: APAC's second largest pork importer
As Japan’s favorite protein, the country produced 1.29 million mt of pork in 2024/25.
It ranks as APAC’s second-largest pork importer after China, having lost the top spot since 2016. Imports reached 974,460 mt valued at $2.08 billion, mainly from the US, Canada, Spain, and Mexico.
Pork is widely used in processed and convenience foods, and popular dining formats like izakayas and bentos.
South Korea: Rising demand driving higher imports
South Korea produced 1.46 million mt of pork in the 2024/25 marketing year. Imports totaled 563,210 mt in 2024, primarily frozen belly and shoulder cuts from the US, Spain, Canada, and Brazil. The popularity of barbecue culture and growing HMR (home meal replacement) demand continued to support import growth.
US pork exports to South Korea hit a record $728 million in 2024, according to USDA data compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF). The South Korean market has grown increasingly competitive, with other major suppliers also enjoying duty-free access, intensifying the fight for market share.
Philippines: Disease outbreaks drove higher imports
Sourced predominantly from Brazil, the Philippines brought in 372,000 mt in 2024 to cover shortfalls from farms impacted by the American Swine Fever (ASF). Pork is core to dishes like adobo and lechon, making imports essential for maintaining price stability.
EU-China anti-dumping tensions
On July 17, 2024, China launched an anti-dumping investigation into pork and pork by-products imported from the European Union (EU), in response to EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Spain, Denmark, and the Netherlands are among the pork suppliers at risk of retaliatory duties. Much of the EU’s pork shipments to China consist of pig ears, noses, feet, and offal, cuts rarely consumed in Europe.
On June 10, the Chinese commerce ministry said it would prolong the inquiry for six months "in view of the complexity of this case".
The investigation period will now expire on December 16, the ministry said in a brief statement.
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