What happened
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the average purchase price of live pigs at designated slaughtering enterprises was 12.21 yuan per kilogram during the week of August 24-30, 2026.
This price was down 0.1% from the previous week and 17.9% lower than the same period last year.
The average ex-factory price of white-striped pork was 15.99 yuan per kilogram, up 0.1% week-on-week but down 16.5% year-on-year.
Why it matters
The steep year-on-year decline signals that hog prices remain significantly below the levels seen a year earlier, which could continue to pressure farmers' returns and influence their production decisions.
Although wholesale pork prices ticked up slightly on a weekly basis, the annual decline still points to persistent weakness in the pork market compared with a year ago.
Key facts
In the week of August 24-30, 2026, the average hog purchase price at designated slaughtering enterprises was 12.21 yuan/kg.
The hog purchase price dropped 0.1% month-on-month and 17.9% year-on-year.
The average white-striped pork ex-factory price was 15.99 yuan/kg, up 0.1% month-on-month and down 16.5% year-on-year.
Data was released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
What to watch next
Whether hog prices stabilize or continue to decline in the coming weeks as market supply and demand evolve.
Whether any policy measures are introduced to support the hog market in response to the large annual price drop.