June 5, 2025
Major pig producers in China aim for higher pig numbers, expanding industry consolidation
China's pig farming industry is undergoing rapid consolidation, with large-scale producers increasingly dominating the market.
Seventeen publicly listed pig farming companies have already released their production plans for 2025, collectively aiming for a total output of 217 million pigs. This marks an increase of 38.1 million head compared to their combined output in 2024, reflecting year-on-year growth rates ranging from 13.62% to 21.26%.
Among these companies, nine are planning to increase production by more than one million head, including Muyuan, Twins, and Wen's Group. Muyuan seeks to release up to 78 million pigs in 2025 (including up to 12 million piglets). If its 2025 target is realised, Muyuan's production will fall just 10 million head short of the European Union's annual pig output.
According to the latest quarterly financial reports, the total pig output of 22 listed companies reached 51.05 million head in Q1 2025 — over 10 million more than the same period in 2024. Sixteen of these companies reported year-on-year increases, with some exceeding 150% growth.
Meanwhile, profitability improved substantially as well. For Muyuan Foods, it recorded a net profit of ¥4.491 billion (US$625.4 million), up 288.79% year-on-year.
In 2024, 36 companies in China produced over one million pigs, and their combined pig production totalled 247 million head — about 35.15% of the national output. Although national pig production declined by 3.31% year-on-year to 702.56 million head, concentration increased. The top 20 producers produced 194.23 million pigs, accounting for 27.63% of national output, up from 24.59% in 2023.
Meanwhile, the top four producers produced 136.01 million pigs, equivalent to 19.35% of the national total, up from 16.5% in 2024.
Additionally, the proportion of national sows held by the top 20 producers increased by approximately three percentage points even as the total sow inventory in China shrank in 2024.
China's pig farming sector is clearly moving toward a more concentrated and efficient model. Led by companies like Muyuan, the industry is not only expanding in scale but also improving in profitability and productivity. The consolidation is expected to continue, reinforcing China's position as the world's largest pork producer.
About EFL AG-DATA
EFL AG-DATA is a startup incubated by Singapore's Nanyang Technological University's Innovation and Enterprise Company (NTUitive) Incubator Program. It is developing an agricultural hub that will revolutionize the feed-to-meat supply chain in China and Southeast Asia countries through data-driven solutions. EFL's mission is to empower farms through innovative data-based services that solve complex problems and enhance productivity.
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