In the past few weeks, African swine fever (ASF) has spread to new regions or returned to previously infected areas of China, Laos, Myanmar and the Far Eastern region of Russia, while the Philippines is in high alert following a sudden increase in mortality among backyard pigs.

Despite the ongoing troubles caused by the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak, Chinese poultry and pork company Wen’s Food Group saw its net profit jump 50.8% for the first half of 2019.

Perhaps it is an overreaction. Perhaps it is an opportunity to cut back on costs. Perhaps it is neither or both, but I have heard of cases where major pig producers are keeping growing-finishing gilts back for breeding as they decided to stop bringing in new genetic stock in fear of introducing the African swine fever (ASF) virus to their herds.

New cases of African swine fever (ASF) in domestic pigs in Europe are cause for great concern, but the disease should not be as devastating to the European pork industry as it has been to date in China.

WH Group reported a nearly 17% decline in profits in the first half of 2019, citing higher meat prices due to African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks that have swept across China throughout the past year.

China’s agriculture ministry has lowered its forecast on corn consumption, citing the outbreaks of African swine fever that have devastated the country throughout the past year.

During the last two great world wars, the United States of America aided its Allies in Europe. It offered material, funds and, above all, blood and lives.

Chinese authorities have recorded the return of African swine fever (ASF) to Hubei province. Following the devastating losses to Asian pork production brought about by a year under the threat of outbreaks, some countries and entrepreneurs are taking the opportunity to make changes to their farming structure or businesses.

Mexican pork exports to China skyrocketed 283%, between January and June 2019.

With producers in most regions taking a cautious approach to market volatility and expansion, Rabobank anticipates tight supplies and steep prices for pork by 2020.

Since the Chinese authorities reported the first cases of African swine fever (ASF) in Liaoning province in August 2018, the disease has spread widely within China, and to other states in Asia — Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar and Vietnam — as well as to Europe and South Africa.

A Vietnamese traveler was arrested by Japanese authorities for illegally carrying pork products infected with African swine fever (ASF) virus into the country.