In 2018, global pork production was led by China, which produced 54 million metric tons of pork in that year. The European Union and the United States held the second and third positions, respectively. China’s pork production was twice as much as the EU’s and over four times as much as the United States’. That year, global pork production amounted to about 121 million metric tons.

Pig farming in China

As China has experienced rapid economic growth, the demand for pork in the country has too increased. Although, the majority of pig farms in China are small scale operations, the introduction of factory farming methods with large scale production of swine is on the rise. The development of modern farms has been one of the most important factors in satisfying the increasing demand for pork in China. As of 2018, there were 433.25 million pigs in China, more than any other country.

Global meat consumption

The most commonly consumed meats in world are poultry and pork, though in the next several years poultry is expected to overtake pork in popularity. Global consumption of pork is projected to increase from 117.35 metric kilotons in 2017 to about 131 metric kilotons by 2027. In the United States however, per capita consumption of red meat is expected to level off after reaching about 114 pounds.