INTERVIEW: Spain's pork industry addressing competition, disease challenges: INTERPORC

Spain's pork industry is actively addressing increased competition from Brazil while implementing robust disease prevention measures as it looks ahead to 2026, Daniel de Miguel, international director of Spanish industry association INTERPORC, told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy.

De Miguel, in an interview Nov. 17, emphasized the organization's role as a non-profit entity representing the entire Spanish white pork sector, which encompasses production, processing, and marketing. INTERPORC's core activities include promoting sustainability and animal welfare, communicating the Spanish production model, and supporting export growth and market diversification.

"Spain has one of the most advanced traceable and strictly regulated pork production systems in the world," de Miguel said, highlighting that this system enables exporters to guarantee high standards that are increasingly prioritized in international markets.

Strategies for growth amid rising competition

As competition from Brazilian pork exports intensifies, Spanish producers are focusing on product differentiation to maintain and expand their market share. This differentiation includes traceability, animal welfare and sustainability credentials, and cut-level specialization that meets buyer requirements in high-spec markets like the EU, Japan and South Korea.

De Miguel noted that Spanish exporters are investing in specialized cuts and tailored solutions. For instance, Spain has expanded its approved product lists with China to include offal categories such as pig stomachs, reflecting a strategy to broaden value capture beyond standard prime cuts. Offal accounted for approximately 22% of Spanish pig-meat exports in Q1 2025, according to data from UK-based Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

Tailored solutions involve customer-specific specifications, such as portion sizing, trimming standards, packaging formats, and certification demands. These adaptations help Spanish exporters meet diverse market requirements and defend their premium positioning. "We need to spread those differential values in the next years to stand out from other origins," de Miguel said.

In contrast to the uncertainty in China, Spain is actively working to solidify its position within the European market. De Miguel emphasized that Spain is a leader in pork production in Europe and sees significant opportunities for growth. Many Spanish producers are shifting their focus back to the European market, he said, recognizing that there is still room for expansion despite the challenges posed by international competition.

To capitalize on these opportunities, Spanish exporters are emphasizing the high standards of Spain's pork production system and promoting the unique qualities of their products. This strategic approach aims to enhance their competitiveness against imports from Brazil and other countries, ensuring they stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Looking ahead, de Miguel remains optimistic about Spain's position in the European pork market. "We have to gain market share in Europe, including the UK," he concluded, emphasizing the need for continued innovation and adaptation in the face of competition and changing market dynamics.

Consumer preferences and emerging markets

On consumer trends, de Miguel acknowledged the difficulty in predicting which specific cuts will gain traction in Asian and European markets. He highlighted that while South Korea is demanding higher quantities of pork, countries like Japan are stabilizing in their demand.

"China remains uncertain due to its diverse production landscape," he explained, referring to the mix of modern farms with enormous production capacities and less developed operations within the country. This dichotomy creates a "high gap" in China, where some farms are equipped with modern technologies and practices, while others struggle with outdated methods and disease management.

This complexity makes it challenging for Spanish exporters to gauge potential opportunities and risks in the Chinese market, de Miguel said.

Impact of antidumping investigations

Ongoing antidumping investigations have posed challenges for Spanish-based exporters. China opened an antidumping investigation into EU pork imports in June 2024, with Spain among the principal focal points due to its high export volumes to China.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) compiled a list detailing the names of various EU pork companies and the preliminary tariffs that apply to them, which vary based on their compliance throughout the investigation. On Sept. 10, 2025, China announced provisional antidumping duties ranging from 16.6% to 62.4% on EU pork imports, with company-specific rates pending and subject to change upon final determination.

De Miguel expressed cautious optimism about the position of Spanish companies, having secured a provisional tariff of around 20%, with Literat Meat receiving the lowest rate at 16.6%. However, he noted that the final decision, expected around Dec. 16 from MOFCOM, will be crucial.

"If the tariff decreases, it could positively impact our exports," he said, highlighting the competitive disadvantage that Spanish exporters face compared to Brazil and Canada.

Biosecurity measures and disease prevention

Biosecurity continues to be a top priority for Spain's pork industry. De Miguel noted that advancements in biosecurity protocols and the integration of technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are essential for maintaining production standards.

"Animal welfare and biosecurity are mandatory for producers who want to remain competitive," he said.

Since the start of 2025, multiple European countries, including Germany, Italy, Ukraine and many more have reported new or ongoing African swine fever (ASF) activity, largely in wild boar and, in parts of southeastern Europe, in domestic pigs.

This situation has prompted containment zones, and led to culls, movement bans, and zonation that disrupted local supply and trade, according to the Swine Health Information Center.

Poland faced ongoing challenges with wild boar cases, which increased surveillance costs for processors, according to local media. Spain has remained unaffected by these outbreaks so far, sustaining uninterrupted market access and export continuity, reflecting longstanding biosecurity discipline and surveillance under EU rules.