The Brazilian pork industry has experienced incredible growth in recent years that can be best described as a 48% increase in production volume over the past 10 years. To put this into greater perspective, the USDA reports the U.S. has experienced a 14% increase in production volume since 2015 with nearly all of this growth occurring between 2015 to 2020 (there has been around a 1% increase in production volume in the U.S. since 2020). Two questions come to mind when comparing Brazil to the U.S.
1. What is driving Brazil’s increase in production?
Are Brazilian consumers eating more pork or has Brazil become more active with global trade of pork products? The answer to this question is both.
Brazilian consumers are eating more pork. Per capita pork consumption in Brazil is at an all-time high at 19 kg per person, up 32% from 2016 per capita pork consumption levels of 14 kg per person. Meanwhile, per capita consumption of pork in the U.S. has remained at consistent levels from 2016 to 2025 at approximately 23 kg per person.
What is happening on the global trade front may be even more intriguing. Brazilian pork export volume is expected to reach nearly 1.45 million metric tons in 2025. That is an astounding increase from the mark of 0.55 million metric tons in 2016 (161% increase over the past 10-years). For comparison purposes, the U.S. is expected to achieve a pork export volume of 3.40 million metric tons in 2025. This is an impressive 43% increase in pork export volume for the U.S. since 2016 but pales in comparison to the growth observed in Brazil.
Another statistic worth investigating is pork export volume as a percentage of total production. Pork export volume as a percentage of total production for Brazil and the U.S. nearly mirror each other using the 2025 estimates, both at approximately 26%. The interesting component of this statistic is when you evaluate this parameter for its historical context. For instance, in 2016 the U.S. had a pork export volume of 21% of total production while Brazil had a pork export volume of 15% of total production in 2016 (implying that Brazil has become much more active in global trade of pork in the last 10 years). If the next 10 years unfold like some think they may, Brazil could become an undisputed leader of global pork production, rivaling the U.S. on the global trade front.
2. What production-related changes are occurring in Brazil?
How is the Brazilian pork industry supporting this dramatic increase in production from a profitability standpoint? This is a difficult question to fully address, but several advantages exist in Brazil when compared with the U.S. I will do my best to provide some of the primary points but readily admit this is not an exhaustive list. I am likely not completing the full message of the production and market intricacies that exist today and those that may exist at the time you are reading this.
• Cost-effective feed supplies.
The main pig-producing states in Brazil (Santa Catarina, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul) also produce sufficient levels of corn and soybeans. While this may not be an advantage compared to the Midwest region of the United States, it is a distinct advantage compared to most other areas of the world. In addition, the grain market in the U.S has been volatile over the past 15 years.
• High level of vertical integration.
Around 80-85% of pork production in Brazil is vertically integrated which provides market stability, particularly during periods of extreme growth.
• Adoption of technology.
While the U.S. remains as a global leader for the adoption of technology such as precision feeding systems, advanced genetics, barn automation (i.e., temperature control), and processing plant robotics, Brazil is quickly adopting similar technologies related to pig production.
• Disease prevention and biosecurity.
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), the costliest pig disease in the U.S., is not present in Brazil (i.e., the country is recognized as PRRS-free).
Your Next Read: Brazil’s Pork Exports Expected to Grow 5% in 2025 Despite Global Trade Uncertainties
