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Pork industry growth remains in a “holding pattern”

The CEO of the National Pork Board says inflation, labor shortages and trade uncertainties have paused industry expansion.

Bill Even tells Brownfield the pork sector is in a holding pattern. “There is not a lot of growth being predicted, not a lot of construction because of costs and there is just a lot of uncertainty related to feed and construction costs as well as what us going to happen with exports.”

He says it is clear that US pork is in a rough spot with China.

“When they are in the market, they buy a lot of product. But, when they are out of the market, that product needs to find a home. Our board has really been focused on diversifying our export sales a lot into Latin America and Southeast Asia.”

Even says any potential growth will also be dependent on processing capacity and labor availability.

“Right now, we are at a fairly good equilibrium between the supply of pigs and the number of spots in the plants for processing throughout the year. As people are watching feed costs and capital costs, we see things just continuing in the holding pattern right now unless something dramatic changes.”

He says despite food inflation, consumer demand for pork has remained strong.  

Brownfield interviewed Even at the Illinois Pork Expo earlier this month.