Business · Energy & Commodities · 4 hrs ago
Weak US pork demand pushes lean hog futures to contract lows
Lean hog futures hit contract lows on Tuesday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in the United States.
US consumers are buying less pork as high gasoline costs strain household budgets and some worry pork will be dry and lack flavor when cooked.
Exports have also been weak, with China facing an oversupply of hogs and Mexico importing less US pork.
December lean hog futures touched 57.425 cents per pound before settling at 58.600 cents, and have fallen 27.5% since late July.
Weak demand is driving market losses, even though US pork production is down this year.
US hog slaughter is down 0.9% so far this year, while Tuesday's slaughter was 1.2% higher than a year earlier.
Weak US pork demand pushed lean hog futures to contract lows on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Tuesday.
CME December lean hog futures reached a low of 57.425 cents per pound before settling at 58.600 cents.
The contract has fallen 27.5% since late July.
Analysts attributed weak demand to pressure on consumers’ budgets, concerns about pork’s taste and texture, and lackluster exports.
US pork exports have been affected by China’s hog oversupply and reduced Mexican imports of US pork.
- Who
- US lean hog futures traders and the US pork industry.
- What
- Lean hog futures hit contract lows amid weak demand for US pork.
- When
- Tuesday; the article was published on November 3, 2026.
- Where
- Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
- Why
- Analysts cited consumer cost pressures, concerns about pork’s taste and texture, and lackluster exports.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
CME December lean hog futures reached a contract low of 57.425 cents per pound before settling at 58.600 cents.
The December lean hog contract has fallen 27.5%.
- December futures low
- 57.425 cents per pound
- December futures settlement
- 58.600 cents per pound
- Decline since late July
- 27.5%
- US hog slaughter so far this year
- About 106.2 million, down 0.9% from a year earlier