China’s New Pig Farmers Aim to Ride out Boom-Bust Cycle

China’s New Pig Farmers Aim to Ride out Boom-Bust Cycle
The wife of pig farmer Han Yi prepares feed for pigs on their farm at a village in Changtu county, Liaoning Province, China on January 17, 2019. Ryan Woo/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

CHONGQING, China—China’s huge hog sector is struggling with excess production after millions of small, often first-time, pig farmers entered the industry to capitalize on record profits during a swine-fever related shortage.

Now, even as prices hover below the cost of production and the government urges them to cull their herds, many of the newcomers are reluctant to give up, dimming hopes for the market returning to balance.