Lean hog futures experienced gains on Thursday, rising between 95 cents and $1.12. The USDA reported the national base hog price fell by $1.06 to $68.65. The CME Lean Hog Index increased by 57 cents, reaching $83.87 on December 16.
According to the USDA’s Export Sales report, 30,646 metric tons (MT) of pork were sold for 2025, with 2,351 MT designated for 2026 delivery. Pork shipments hit a 9-week low at 27,091 MT. The USDA’s pork carcass cutout value also dropped by $1.11, settling at $97.43 per cwt, while estimated federally inspected hog slaughter for Thursday was 495,000 head, totalling 1.957 million head for the week—8,000 head lower week-over-week but 10,755 head higher than the same time last year.
