U.S. Pork Industry: January 2025 Sees Increased Production Amid Rising Prices

The U.S. pork industry started 2025 on a strong note, with increased production and higher hog prices driven by robust consumer demand. According to the latest USDA Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook, estimated federally inspected (FI) pork production in January 2025 reached approximately 2.5 billion pounds, reflecting a 1% increase compared to January 2024. This growth was primarily fueled by a higher number of slaughter-ready animals—about 11.4 million head, nearly 1% more than the previous year—combined with slightly heavier average dressed weights. Despite this increase in supply, consumer demand for pork remained high, allowing processors to command higher sale prices for pork cuts at the wholesale level. January 2025 saw a significant increase in hog prices, with processors paying $80.19 per hundredweight (cwt)—a 19% jump from January 2024. At the same time, the wholesale pork carcass cutout averaged $91.07 per cwt, 4.7% higher than the same period last year. While the gros