Short-term support for stable pork prices, pig prices are expected to rebound next year.

On August 21st, the official website of the National Development and Reform Commission announced that the country will soon start the central frozen pork reserve collection and storage. Since April of this year, the pig-to-feed ratio in Sichuan has remained below 6:1. The monitoring weekly report released by the Development and Reform Commission of Sichuan Province on August 21st shows that the average pig-to-feed ratio in the province is 5.45:1, entering the second-level warning zone of excessive decline specified in the "Sichuan Province Pig Market Price Regulation Plan." The low pig prices are mainly influenced by multiple factors. A relevant person in charge of the Sichuan Livestock Association stated that the hot summer weather and people's preference for light diets suppress meat consumption. In addition, school holidays, reduced dining and outdoor consumption, and a decrease in pork sales will also lead to a decline in pork prices. Furthermore, with a large number of fattened pigs being slaughtered and an increase in recent pig meat supply, the strong supply and weak demand have caused pork prices to drop. Li Xiaoyong, the chairman of the Pig Industry Branch of the Sichuan Livestock Association, mentioned that in recent years, breeding companies have continuously improved their independent breeding capabilities, leading to an increase in the number of piglets produced per sow each year. In the short term, with the combination of these factors, the pig production capacity is still in a surplus state, and pork prices are expected to continue to operate at low levels, with a possibility of rebounding next year.