Vietnam’s pig market is experiencing sharp price increases. Nevertheless, many farmers remain hesitant to rebuild herds due to disease risks and high costs, vietnamnet.vn reports.
Herd reduction
In Hung Yen province, farmer Tran Quoc Toan reported live pig prices reaching about USD 2.80/kg. Traders are actively searching him for supply.
His farm once raised over 2000 pigs, but African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks and unstable prices forced him to scale down significantly.
In November 2025, he sold 200 pigs just above USD 2.12/kg. Despite breaking even, he avoided restocking due to disease concerns.
Currently, Mr Toan maintains only 200 pigs and sows. He plans to sell after Lunar new Year, but has no intention of starting a new herd.
Across the region, many farms remain idle. Farmers cite previous losses and fear of ASF as reasons for leaving barns empty.
Regional price movements
Prices vary by region but continue trending upward:
- ✅ North: USD 2.72-2.80/kg
- ✅ Central: USD 2.52-2.75/kg
- ✅ South: USD 2.40-2.52/kg
Nguyen Van Thanh, a sales employee a sales employee in charge of Phu Tho province for a large livestock enterprise, confirmed rapid increases. Pigs weighing 120kg recently reached USD 2.68-2.72/kg.
He explained that ASF outbreaks and flooding have reduced herds, creating shortages that continue to push prices higher.
Supply pressures and consumer choices
Mr Thanh predicted prices may exceed USD 2.80/kg after the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday in February. Rising seasonal demand adds further pressure.
At Hanoi’s Dai Tu market, traders reported prices climbing by USD 0.20-0.60/kg compared with min-November.
Xuan, a seller in the market, noted sluggish demand despite higher prices. Sellers hesitate to raise prices sharply, fearing consumers will cut back on portions.
Nguyen Kim Doan, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Livestock Association, forecast prices near USD 2.80/kg by the Lunar New Year. However, he expects increases to be less dramatic than 2020, noting that while supply is short, it is not too serious.
Mr Doan warned that if prices rise too much, authorities may stabilize the market through imports.
Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, stated that the pig herd is recovering. He assured that supply for the Lunar New Year remains sufficient, while emphasizing efforts to stabilize prices.