The Paraguayan pork chain is experiencing one of the strongest growth periods in its history and is poised for significant expansion in the coming years. This assessment was made by representatives from the productive, industrial, state, health, and financial sectors during the First Meeting of the Paraguayan Pork Chain, held this Thursday as part of the Paraguay Business Fair (FEPY 2026).
The event, organized by the Paraguayan Industrial Union (UIP), brought together the main players in the chain to analyze the opportunities and challenges of an industry that has been gaining prominence both in the local market and in foreign trade.
At the opening of the event, UIP President Enrique Duarte highlighted that pork production has become one of the most significant examples of the country's industrial transformation and stressed the need for public policies based on information and evidence.
"In the pork chain, we are experiencing an exceptional moment. Exports have grown 43% so far this year compared to the same period last year. This is not luck; it is the result of sustained investments, the health standards built by Senacsa, and, above all, producers who bet on technology," he said.
Duarte, however, warned that the growth of the activity also poses important challenges, including the need to increase production to supply an industry that currently records between 30% and 35% idle capacity at its slaughterhouses.
For his part, the president of the Paraguayan Pig Breeders Association, Hugo Schaffrath, stated that the national pig farming sector is in an unprecedented expansion stage and estimated that between 2027 and 2028 the country could more than double the number of breeding sows in production, thanks to new investments with high levels of technology and efficiency.
According to Schaffrath, one of the main challenges will be to expand domestic pork consumption, which currently stands at around 11 kilograms per inhabitant per year, well below the levels recorded in Brazil and Argentina, where it exceeds 20 kilograms.