Pig outlook—March 19: Lean hog futures trading turns choppy, sideways

Mar 24, 2025

The lean hog futures market the past two weeks has seen choppy and sideways trading action. Some mild technical selling pressure has occurred this week after prices Monday challenged stiff overhead resistance but could not push above it. Also weighing on futures prices at mid-week is news last week’s hog slaughter levels broke a string of year-to-year reductions that began in late January, as last week’s preliminary kill total was up about 2.4% from year-ago. Limiting selling interest in futures this week is news the National Pork Producers Council said all 300-plus U.S. pork harvesting and cold storage facilities have successfully renewed their registrations to export to China. This five-year renewal ensures continued market access to China for U.S. pork producers. The latest CME lean hog index is up 4 cents to $89.32 as of March 17, ending the string of recent losses.

Latest USDA and other news regarding the global pork industry

U.S. pork exports to China fully restored

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) announced that all 300+ U.S. pork harvesting and cold storage facilities have successfully renewed their registrations to export to China. This five-year renewal, achieved through negotiations by USDA and the U.S. Trade Representative, ensures continued market access for U.S. pork producers.

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Video: Environmental Effects on Sow Fertility - Dr. Isabela Bez

In this special episode celebrating International Women's Day of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, we bring Dr. Isabela Bez, a veterinarian and PhD student in Brazil, who explains how temperature and light regimes influence sow reproductive performance. She discusses seasonal infertility, climate adaptation, and why environmental monitoring inside barns is critical for herd efficiency. The episode highlights practical management strategies to reduce reproductive losses and improve outcomes. Listen now on all major platforms. "Environmental factors are actually very important on sow reproduction, and sometimes these are the factors that producers tend to not pay attention." Meet the guest: Dr. Isabela Bez / isabela-cristina-cola%c3%a7o-bez-1753381b0 is a veterinarian and PhD student in Animal Science at Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), Brazil. Her work focuses on swine reproduction, nutrition, and animal welfare, with strong expertise in environmental effects on sow performance. She collaborates with international farms and research groups to improve reproductive efficiency through applied science.