Exports of pork meat and offal to Japan fall by 74% in volume and 77.5% in value, while in Mexico they drop to zero.
ANICE warns that the impact could intensify during the second half of the year and acknowledges the intense technical work being carried out by MAPA to advance the reopening of these markets.
The National Association of Meat Industries of Spain (ANICE) has warned of the severe impact that African Swine Fever (ASF) is having on Spanish pork exports following the closure of several strategic markets.
Data from the first half of 2026 already makes it possible to quantify a significant portion of these consequences. In Japan and Mexico alone, the value of exports of meat, offal, and processed products dropped by nearly €350 million compared to the same period in 2025.
Japan: More than €300 million less in meat and offal
Between January and June 2026, Spain exported 24,880 tonnes of pork meat and offal to Japan, compared to 95,425 tonnes in the same period of 2025—a 73.9% decrease.
In terms of value, exports fell from €402.9 million to €90.6 million, representing a 77.5% drop and €312.3 million less in just six months.
The monthly trend further highlights the progressive intensity of the closure: meat exports dropped from around 7,000 tonnes in January to barely 600 in June.
Japan suspended imports of Spanish pork products, though it allowed the continued export of items packaged on or before October 29, 2025. This permitted certain trade flows to continue during the first months of 2026, meaning the cumulative total for the first half of the year still cushions the full impact of the closure.
This also explains the smaller decline in processed products, whose exports fell by 17.4% in volume and 14.3% in value. Their longer shelf life and the concentration of shipments during the early months of the year delayed the statistical impact of the ban.
“The first-half data does not yet show the full scope of the problem. If we fail to regain access to the Japanese market, the impact will be much more severe during the second half of the year,” says Giuseppe Aloisio, Director General of ANICE.
Mexico: Meat and offal exports reduced to zero
The situation is even more stark in Mexico. During the first half of 2025, Spain exported 5,154 tonnes of pork meat and offal valued at €9.8 million. In the same period of 2026, official statistics record zero exports, representing a 100% drop.
Flows of processed products have also come to a virtual standstill, compared to 1,726 tonnes and €23.4 million exported during the first half of 2025.
Japan and Mexico thus reflect the impact that ASF is already having on business operations, as well as the added difficulty of finding alternative destinations for significant volumes of product.
“The meat industry faces a particularly complex 2026. The loss of strategic foreign markets introduces significant uncertainty and pressure on companies. Under these circumstances, it is essential to preserve their competitiveness and act with caution regarding decisions that could translate into further structural cost increases,” Aloisio emphasizes.
Regionalization, health diplomacy, and European response
ANICE considers it a priority to make progress in recognizing regionalization mechanisms, allowing restrictions to be confined to affected areas while enabling companies located in disease-free territories to regain their export capacity.
The Association specifically acknowledges the intense technical work being carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) with authorities in the affected countries, expressing confidence in the guarantees provided by the Spanish animal health system, its surveillance mechanisms, biosecurity, control, and traceability.
“We have full confidence in the work of Spanish health authorities and the robustness of our animal health system. We must strengthen our health diplomacy to advance the recognition of regionalization and recover strategic markets like Japan and Mexico as soon as possible,” states the Director General of ANICE.
However, for ANICE, the magnitude of these figures also highlights the need for the European Commission and Member States—naturally including Spain—to develop economic mechanisms to cushion the impact of health crises across the entire livestock and meat supply chain.
In this regard, ANICE—alongside the Business Federation of Meats and Meat Industries (FECIC) and the Italian Association of Meat and Cured Meat Manufacturers (ASSICA)—has been advocating for the creation of a dedicated mutual fund against health risks. This fund would also address indirect economic consequences, such as sudden market closures, loss of commercial activity, or the need to reroute large product volumes.
ANICE maintains that the response to these crises must rest on three pillars:
- Prevention and Health Control
- Regionalization and Health Diplomacy (to preserve and recover markets)
- Economic Cushioning Mechanisms (to protect the competitiveness of the livestock and meat supply chain)
