Live pig prices fall below US$1 per kg in Brazil
Live pig prices in Brazil have fallen below US$1 per kg, reaching their lowest level in real terms since records began in 2002, according to the Centre for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (Cepea) at the University of São Paulo (Esalq/USP).
In a report released in September, Cepea said the average live pig price in the São Paulo region stood at R$4.99 per kg in August, 43% below the level recorded in December 2025. It was the lowest inflation-adjusted price recorded in the São Paulo market, which covers Bragança Paulista, Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo and Sorocaba, since the series began in March 2002. The previous record low was registered in July 2006, when prices averaged R$5.06 per kg, adjusted for inflation.
According to Cepea, August marked the eighth consecutive monthly decline in live pig prices in São Paulo, extending the downward trend observed since the beginning of the year. The decline was driven by abundant pork supplies and weaker domestic consumption. Although demand showed some recovery at the beginning of August, supported by consumers’ greater purchasing power, the improvement lost momentum in the following weeks. As retail sales weakened, slaughterhouses reduced pig purchases, putting further downward pressure on farmgate prices. Cepea estimates indicate that August recorded the second-highest pork production volume of 2026, behind only July.
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