Catalonia's pork sector faces over €900 million losses from African swine fever outbreak

Six months after the detection of African swine fever (ASF) in the Collserola Natural Park, the virus remains active among wild boar populations in Catalonia. No cases have been reported in domestic pigs, but the disease has severely disrupted the regional pork industry.

Producers estimate the outbreak has caused more than €913 million in losses, with pork prices falling about 16% below expected levels. Export markets such as Japan, Mexico and the Philippines have been closed, forcing distributors to seek alternative Asian suppliers.

Veterinary experts highlighted the difficulty of eradicating ASF in Europe. The Catalan virus strain carries 18 mutations compared with the original Georgia 2007 strain, and while biosecurity on intensive farms is strong, human error remains a risk. They called for collective responsibility, improved management of wild boar populations, and strategies such as immunoconception, noting the lack of dedicated financial aid for affected farmers.