Taipei, Taiwan – The price of pork in Taiwan has surged to historic highs, recently hitting NT$107.33 per kilogram, according to data released by the Central Livestock Association. This marks a new record after several consecutive days of prices exceeding the NT$100 mark, with recent peaks driven by a combination of hot weather, reduced pig supply, and market speculation ahead of a potential typhoon.
🌡️ Heatwave Slows Pig Growth
According to Li Yiqian, Director of the Animal Husbandry Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, the extreme summer heat has significantly affected pigs’ appetites, leading to slower weight gain and a reduced number of pigs reaching marketable size. “This trend is typical during hot months, but this year’s heat has had a more pronounced impact,” Li noted.
To ease the supply strain, the Ministry has coordinated with Taiwan Sugar Corporation to increase the number of pigs auctioned in July by more than 1,100, distributing the increase across several weeks.
Despite the high market price, Li assured the public that the combined supply of domestic and imported pork remains sufficient to meet consumer needs, and is even higher than last year’s supply for the same period.
📉 Low Market Volume and Typhoon Speculation Boost Prices
On Saturday, the trading volume of live pigs dropped significantly to 12,010 pigs, down from 17,908 the day before, and well below the usual 20,000. Saturdays typically see lower market activity, but fears of potential market closure due to Typhoon Danas have triggered a spike in auction participation, contributing to the average price of NT$107/kg.
While this figure represents an average across the island, some markets reported even higher rates. The current average live pig weight ranges between 126 and 127.5 kilograms.
📊 Rising Pork Imports Still Not Enough to Stabilize Prices
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s pork dashboard, as of July 2, Taiwan had imported approximately:
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63,040 metric tons of pork
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18,876 metric tons of offal and other edible parts
This brings the total to 81,916 metric tons, accounting for 9% of the nation’s pork supply.
In comparison, during the same period in 2024, only 56,592 metric tons were imported, representing 6% of supply — highlighting a noticeable increase in pork import volume.
🐖 Farmers Point to Weather and Disease
Huang Jiaan, General Manager of the Yunlin County Meat Market, echoed similar concerns, citing epidemic diarrhea and blue ear disease as key factors reducing breeding success. “The combination of high temperatures and disease outbreaks has severely limited pig growth and breeding efficiency,” he explained.
Although the typhoon has raised concerns about possible auction suspensions, Huang believes its direct impact on prices will be minimal. “The market will simply pause during a closure, but it won’t significantly alter the price unless the supply chain is disrupted longer-term,” he said.
💬 Farmers on Quality and Cost Concerns
Veteran pig farmer Mr. Lin emphasized the importance of selling pigs at the ideal market weight. “Overweight pigs develop too much fat, affecting both meat quality and consumer demand,” he explained. “On the other hand, underweight pigs take longer to raise, which increases production costs.”
Lin added that while feed intake and weight gain are essential, the low breeding rate this year has also played a major role in limiting supply.
📢 Outlook
With rising temperatures, potential weather disruptions from Typhoon Danas, and continuing concerns over disease and breeding, Taiwan’s pork market remains under pressure. Consumers are advised to stay informed, while the Ministry of Agriculture continues to monitor the situation and coordinate measures to stabilize supply and prices in the weeks ahead.
