Brazil's Pork Industry Gears Up for Another Strong Year in 2026
Following a robust performance in 2025, Brazil's pork industry is entering 2026 with considerable confidence. Optimism is driven by the successful diversification of export markets, steady growth in domestic consumption, and expectations of firm prices. As one of the world's top three pork exporters, Brazil is strengthening its role as a global supplier by actively exploring new markets .
📈 Export Outlook: Volume Growth and Market Restructuring
According to analysis from the Brazilian Institute of Applied Economics (Cepea), Brazil's pork exports are forecast to reach approximately 1.44 million tonnes in 2026, representing a 6.3% increase from the previous year. This growth is supported by significant shifts in market structure .
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Established Markets Show Strength: The Philippines is expected to remain the primary destination for Brazilian pork, with purchases projected to grow by 7% in 2026 .
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Adjustments in Traditional Markets: Exports to China, Brazil's second-largest pork market, are anticipated to continue declining. This reflects the recovery of China's domestic pig herd and a structural weakening of its import demand .
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Emerging Market Opportunities: In the Americas, Mexico, as the world's largest pork importer, is expected to steadily increase its demand for Brazilian pork. Recent trade agreements between the two countries aim to boost purchases further, providing a new source of growth for Brazilian exports .
Industry analysis also highlights the role of other Asian markets like Japan, Korea, and Singapore, alongside opportunities in South America, in driving export volumes to a new record, potentially exceeding 1.5 million tonnes .
🏠 Domestic Demand & Production: Consumption Upgrade and Moderate Expansion
The domestic market provides a solid foundation for the industry's growth, alongside export momentum .
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Consumption and Prices: Supported by solid domestic demand, pork prices are expected to remain high in 2026, continuing the trend from 2025. The Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) forecasts that per capita pork consumption in Brazil will reach 19.5 kilograms in 2026, a year-on-year increase of 2.5%, indicating a clear trend of consumption upgrading .
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Production and Costs: To meet demand from both domestic and international markets, Cepea predicts Brazil's pork production will grow by 4% in 2026, reaching 5.88 million tonnes . Other projections are slightly more conservative, such as ABPA's forecast of 5.70 million tonnes (up 2.7% from 2025) and Conab's estimate of approximately 5.80 million tonnes . Although prices for key feed inputs like corn and soybeans may rise, sufficient initial stocks and strong harvest expectations are likely to help curb significant increases in production costs .
🌍 Global Promotion: Targeting New Regions
To consolidate and expand its market presence, the Brazilian industry is taking proactive steps. ABPA, in cooperation with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), is organizing 22 agribusiness companies to participate in the 2026 Gulfood exhibition in Dubai, UAE .
This initiative aims to enhance Brazil's image, explore new business opportunities, and strengthen commercial ties with the Middle East market. The success seen in the UAE as a leading destination for Brazilian chicken products in 5 serves as a model for further promoting other animal proteins, like pork, in the region .
Bolstered by firm live hog prices, 2026 is expected to be another favorable year for the profitability and purchasing power of Brazilian pork producers. The success of market diversification strategies has effectively reduced dependence on any single market, enhancing the industry's resilience to risks .
