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Ukraine’s pork producers faced increased uncertainty due to the Russia-Ukraine war. In both 2024 and 2025, there were public reports about bombings, shelling, and drone attacks against pig farms in eastern Ukraine. On January 1, 2025, Ukraine’s largest pork producer, APK Invest, announced the loss of control over several production facilities now situated in occupied territories. The industry continues to suffer from complex logistics, the mobilization of workers, increased taxation, including a new war tax, an unstable macroeconomic environment, currency fluctuations, market losses due to population outflows, electricity shortages, and other war-related factors. Industry noted employee conscription and the animal disease situation are the main production risk factors in 2025. The war has shifted the geographical growth of the swine industry to central and western Ukraine.
After a sharp increase in slaughter in 2024, a 13% decline in slaughter (to 6650 thousand head) and a 12% decline in pork production (to 610 thousand MT) is expected in 2025, followed by a slight rebound in 2026. Industry reports satisfaction with hog sale prices, but expects the 2025 pork supply to be insufficient, prompting imports of 30 thousand MT.
African swine fever (ASF) remains a major problem for the industry. Lack of commercial or state-subsidized insurance discourages production and limits export opportunities. Outbreak elimination and depopulation regulations often result in increased production risks that are beyond producers’ control.
Retail pork prices reached an all-time high in 2025, depressing consumption. Pork also became comparatively more expensive vis-à-vis beef and poultry; however, prices of all three proteins grew significantly, which favored poultry. Reduced consumption is likely to continue among less affluent consumers.
September 17, 2025/ USDA/ United States.
https://apps.fas.usda.gov
