# China wants fewer pigs | Reuters

> China's pig industry representatives will meet in Beijing next week to discuss cutting breeding sow numbers by one million, according to an official notice seen by Reuters. The sow herd stood at 40.43 million head at end-June, above the normal holding level of 39 million, and cash hog prices have fallen sharply.

- Date: 2025-08-07 · published 2025-08-07T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: policy · region China · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/23299-china-wants-fewer-pigs-reuters
- Commodities: [Lean Hogs](https://feedsoft.ai/c/HOGS.md), [Soybean Meal](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SBM.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md)

## Why it matters

A planned reduction in breeding sows would tighten future hog supply and eventually cut demand for feed, which is bearish for soymeal and corn demand over time while supporting hog prices.

## Read by commodity

- SBM: bearish ▼
- CORN: bearish ▼
- HOGS: bullish ▲

## Linked price moves

| Commodity | Date | Window | Change % | z-score | Why linked |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| HOGS | 2025-08-19 | 5 | -10.8% | -5.4 | China planning to cut sow numbers by one million signals oversupply and sharply lower Chinese hog prices, a bearish sentiment signal for global pork demand and prices, though the effect on US lean hogs is indirect. |

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| HOGS | 2021-08-04 | [China intervenes to manage commodity prices \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/45860-china-intervenes-to-manage-commodity-prices-reuters.md) | +0.3% | -12.4% |
| HOGS | 2025-06-11 | [China Nudges Pig Farmers to Restrain Supply After Prices Slump](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24184-china-nudges-pig-farmers-to-restrain-supply-after-prices-slump.md) | +6.1% | +4.3% |
| HOGS | 2021-09-23 | [China lowers 2021-2025 sow herd target, seeks to stabilise pork prices \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/45062-china-lowers-2021-2025-sow-herd-target-seeks-to-stabilise-pork-prices-reuters.md) | +4.7% | -7.8% |
| HOGS | 2018-11-01 | [China's Fat Pigs May Not Face Such a Strict Diet After All - Bloomberg](https://feedsoft.ai/events/62035-china-s-fat-pigs-may-not-face-such-a-strict-diet-after-all-bloomberg.md) | -3.1% | -4.3% |
| HOGS | 2019-06-03 | [China to offer financial support to sow farms to rebuild pig herd](https://feedsoft.ai/events/58592-china-to-offer-financial-support-to-sow-farms-to-rebuild-pig-herd.md) | -2.8% | -9.3% |
| SBM | 2025-06-11 | [China Nudges Pig Farmers to Restrain Supply After Prices Slump](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24184-china-nudges-pig-farmers-to-restrain-supply-after-prices-slump.md) | -3.5% | -8.8% |
| SBM | 2021-04-21 | [Reshaping grain trade? China moves to change animal feed recipes \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/47641-reshaping-grain-trade-china-moves-to-change-animal-feed-recipes-reuters.md) | +3.5% | +0.1% |
| SBM | 2023-04-14 | [Food security drives China to cut soymeal use in animal feed \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14849-food-security-drives-china-to-cut-soymeal-use-in-animal-feed-reuters.md) | -1.7% | -7.5% |

## Sources

- reuters.com: https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/china-wants-fewer-pigs-2025-08-07/

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