Based on the fixed-point monitoring data from markets and collection points in 500 counties nationwide, published weekly by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the editor calculated the pig industry data for 2026 year 10 month.
According to these data, in 10, piglet prices at national agricultural trade markets fell month on month for 3 consecutive months, continuing to reach a new low in nearly 10 years. Meanwhile, live hog and pork prices stopped rising and turned downward, ending 3 consecutive months of month-on-month increases and falling directly to their lowest levels in nearly 3-4 months. Year on year, prices for all 3 hog products continued to fall, declining for 16-19 consecutive months and remaining below the levels for the same period in the previous 4 years. Notably, piglet prices have been below pork prices for 2 consecutive months; this phenomenon has reappeared after nearly 3 years.
Based on analysis of past cycles, after piglet prices remain below pork prices for 2-3 months, they will stop falling and rise above pork prices. Then, after another 4-5 months, live hog prices may reverse course. Will this cycle arrive on schedule?
Details are as follows:
In 2026 year 10 month, the national average piglet price was 18.72 yuan/kg, down 8.7% month on month. It declined month on month for 3 consecutive months and hit a new low for nearly 10 years for 3 consecutive months; it was down 27.4% year on year and declined year on year for 17 consecutive months. During the same period in the 2022-2026 years, the piglet prices for the 5 years from 2026 year 4-10 month, covering 7 months, were all lower than in the same period of the previous 4 years.
2026 year 10 month, the national average price of live pigs was 10.77 yuan/kg, down 5.69% month on month, ending its upward trend and turning downward. This also ended 3 consecutive months of month-on-month increases, with the price falling directly to its lowest level in nearly 4 months. It was down 14.3% year on year, marking 19 consecutive months of year-on-year declines. During the same period in 2022-2026, a span of 5 years, live pig prices in 2026 year, 1-10 month, a span of 10 months, were all lower than during the same period in the preceding 4 years.
2026 year 10 month, the national average price of pork was 20.68 yuan/kg, down 2.3% month on month, ending its upward trend and turning downward. This also ended 3 consecutive months of month-on-month increases, with the price falling to its lowest level in nearly 3 months. It was down 11.6% year on year, marking 16 consecutive months of year-on-year declines. During the same period in 2022-2026, a span of 5 years, pork prices in 2026 year, 1-10 month, a span of 10 months, were all lower than during the same period in the preceding 4 years.