# Grim reality of severe global economic recession slams meat industry
						 | The Pig Site

> Lean hog markets weakened as Trump warned of a 'really bad' two weeks ahead of the COVID-19 outbreak. Average U.S. hog weights fell to 285.4 lbs and packer margins dropped to $16.10 a head, with reports of heavy sow liquidation. Weekly USDA export sales showed pork net sales of 38,200 metric tons, a relative bright spot.

- Date: 2020-04-03 · published 2020-04-03T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: macro · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/6602-grim-reality-of-severe-global-economic-recession-slams-meat-industry-the-pig
- 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

Heavy sow liquidation and falling packer margins point to lower hog supply ahead, while weak domestic demand limits price recovery and softens feed grain demand.

## Read by commodity

- SBM: neutral
- CORN: neutral
- HOGS: bearish ▼

## Linked price moves

| Commodity | Date | Window | Change % | z-score | Why linked |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| HOGS | 2020-04-02 | 5 | -19.1% | -4.9 | Grim recession outlook, heavy sow liquidation and falling packer margins weighed on lean hogs in early April, adding to bearish sentiment. |
| HOGS | 2020-04-03 | 5 | -20.8% | -4.8 | Grim economic outlook, shrinking packer margins and sow liquidation signal weak demand and oversupply pressure on hog prices, though export sales were a partial offset. |

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| HOGS | 2022-06-23 | [Hog, live cattle futures fall on recession fears - CME
						 \| The Beef Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/41079-hog-live-cattle-futures-fall-on-recession-fears-cme-the-beef-site.md) | -1.1% | +4.5% |
| HOGS | 2020-07-31 | [COVID-19 Disruptions in the U.S. Meat Supply Chain
        
        
        
        - Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City](https://feedsoft.ai/events/52237-covid-19-disruptions-in-the-u-s-meat-supply-chain-federal-reserve-bank-of.md) | -1.7% | +6.3% |
| HOGS | 2023-09-28 | [China’s ailing pork demand another sign of economic distress \| FMT](https://feedsoft.ai/events/34095-china-s-ailing-pork-demand-another-sign-of-economic-distress-fmt.md) | -2.5% | -13.6% |
| HOGS | 2022-04-25 | [Why the Chinese Pig Herd Matters Globally \| CZ app](https://feedsoft.ai/events/41836-why-the-chinese-pig-herd-matters-globally-cz-app.md) | -5.4% | -1.6% |
| HOGS | 2023-10-03 | [Livestock Lowdown: Tuesday Closing Livestock Market Update - Economic Pressure Sends Complex Plummeting](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10394-livestock-lowdown-tuesday-closing-livestock-market-update-economic-pressure.md) | +0.2% | -10.0% |
| SBM | 2020-08-21 | [More sustainable meat production with low-protein, amino acid enriched feeds
						 \| The Poultry Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/51935-more-sustainable-meat-production-with-low-protein-amino-acid-enriched-feeds-the.md) | +0.4% | +14.8% |
| SBM | 2025-12-03 | [Brazilian Real Strengthens for 2nd Session](https://feedsoft.ai/events/8058-brazilian-real-strengthens-for-2nd-session.md) | -3.2% | -4.0% |
| SBM | 2020-06-24 | [India’s poultry sector starts road to recovery](https://feedsoft.ai/events/52754-india-s-poultry-sector-starts-road-to-recovery.md) | 0.0% | +0.1% |

## Sources

- thepigsite.com: https://www.thepigsite.com/news/2020/04/grim-reality-of-severe-global-economic-recession-slams-meat-industry

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