Spain’s massive pork industry is facing a severe financial crisis following the detection of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the northeastern region of Catalonia. While the virus remains contained in wild boar populations, international export bans have already caused losses exceeding €600 million for the sector.
Jordi Saltiveri, a farmer based in Lleida who manages 8,000 pigs, reports that the market value of his livestock has plummeted by up to €40 per animal since the outbreak surfaced late last year. "Once it's known that a country is positive for ASF, other countries will stop importing its pork," Saltiveri said. "I'm worried because we're suffering big losses."
The hunt for containment
The virus was first identified in November in a wild boar carcass found in Collserola Park, near Barcelona. Although ASF is lethal to pigs and wild boars, it poses no threat to human health. Authorities believe the overpopulation of wild boar in the region has facilitated the spread of the disease.
Òscar Ordeig, Catalonia’s minister for agriculture, fisheries and food, stated that the region is home to as many as 180,000 wild boar. The government aims to cut that population by half and has already culled 24,000 animals this year using traps and firearms. Rural police are monitoring high-risk zones with drones and cameras to track animal movement.
Despite these efforts, the economic damage to Spain—Europe’s largest pork producer—continues to mount. Major markets including Brazil, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, and the US have suspended imports of Spanish pork entirely. Other trading partners, such as China and the UK, have implemented localized bans targeting products specifically from the affected regions.
Data from the Catalonia region shows a 17% drop in pork exports this January compared to the same period last year. According to the farmers' organization Unión de Uniones, the industry faces a long road to recovery; once the virus is eradicated, a mandatory 12-month waiting period must pass before the country can fully restore its international export status.
