# Strong demand, tight supply push U.S. hog prices higher in 2026

> USDA ERS economists reported that federally inspected pork production in January was 2.8% above a year earlier, at about 2.5 billion pounds, on heavier dressed weights. Live hog prices averaged $61.49 per cwt, up 1.6% year over year, and the pork carcass cutout averaged $93.63, up 2.8%. Q1 2026 pork production was raised to 7.1 billion pounds.

- Date: 2026-02-18 · published 2026-02-18T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/20747-strong-demand-tight-supply-push-u-s-hog-prices-higher-in-2026
- Commodities: [Lean Hogs](https://feedsoft.ai/c/HOGS.md)

## Why it matters

Strong January demand and higher cutout values signal firm hog pricing, though rising production caps upside. Higher Q1 output is balanced against demand that is absorbing the extra pork.

## Read by commodity

- HOGS: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| HOGS | 2024-02-16 | [Tight Supplies Expected to Boost Cattle and Hog Prices in 2024](https://feedsoft.ai/events/31615-tight-supplies-expected-to-boost-cattle-and-hog-prices-in-2024.md) | +3.9% | +4.0% |
| HOGS | 2024-05-23 | [Demand strengthening pork, hog prices](https://feedsoft.ai/events/30394-demand-strengthening-pork-hog-prices.md) | -1.2% | -2.8% |
| HOGS | 2024-03-01 | [Increased demand raises US hog prices
						 \| The Pig Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/31352-increased-demand-raises-us-hog-prices-the-pig-site.md) | -0.8% | +1.7% |
| HOGS | 2024-03-19 | [Increased pork demand raises hog prices](https://feedsoft.ai/events/31347-increased-pork-demand-raises-hog-prices.md) | -0.6% | +8.4% |
| HOGS | 2021-12-21 | [Supply chain issues, increased wages and inputs pushing pork prices up](https://feedsoft.ai/events/43766-supply-chain-issues-increased-wages-and-inputs-pushing-pork-prices-up.md) | +2.4% | +3.3% |

## Sources

- nationalhogfarmer.com: https://www.nationalhogfarmer.com/market-news/strong-demand-tight-supply-push-u-s-hog-prices-higher-in-2026

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.