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Spain's latest montanera season has ended with a small but meaningful rise, giving the Iberian pork sector a reason to breathe a little easier. According to ASICI, the interprofessional association for Iberian pork, the 2025/26 campaign closed with 598,090 acorn-fed Iberian pigs slaughtered , a 3% increase compared with the previous season. That may sound like just another production figure, but in this sector, numbers carry weight. It means 17,425 more bellota pigs reached the market this year. More importantly, it breaks a three-year period of adjustment and makes this the second-strongest montanera campaign of the last five years, behind only 2021/22. For producers, this feels like a careful recovery. Not a boom. Not a rush. Just a sign that the countryside, the animals, and the market are starting to line up again. What Montanera Really Means To understand why this matters, it helps to understand what montanera actually is. Montanera is the final fattening stage of the Ibe...

Iberian Ham The Interprofessional Association of Iberian Pigs (ASICI) and ICEX Spain Export and Investment have signed a collaboration agreement to strengthen the worldwide footprint of Spain's renowned Iberian pig sector. This partnership aims to promote the internationalization of the Spanish Iberian sector through a series of reverse missions, allowing international buyers and influencers to experience firsthand the uniqueness and excellence of Iberian products.  A Comprehensive Program to Showcase Iberian Excellence From 2025 to 2026, the initiative encompasses visits to pastures, drying sheds, and meat processing plants. Participants will engage with industry companies and partake in gastronomic experiences designed to highlight the unparalleled quality of the Iberian pig. The program also includes tours of the Dehesa, a unique ecosystem where Iberian pigs are raised sustainably, contributing to environmental preservation and biodiversity.  Strategic Markets and Business ...

Iberian Ham The Iberian Pork Interprofessional Association (Asici) has reported remarkable success in its international promotion campaigns for Iberian ham, leading to significant growth in key markets such as China, the United Kingdom, and Japan. These efforts have contributed to a 56.5% increase in cured ham exports since 2020, culminating in a record turnover of €722.14 million by the end of 2024. China: A Strategic Market Despite recent trade and tariff challenges, China remains a pivotal market for Iberian ham. In 2024, Spanish exports of cured hams and shoulders to China surpassed €28 million, marking a 60% increase in value over the past five years, according to data from ICEX-ESTACOM. The outreach campaign 'Jamones Ibéricos de España. Ambassadors of Europe in the World,' conducted between 2021 and 2023, played a crucial role in expanding Iberian ham's presence in China. Through training hundreds of cutters, hosting show-cooking events, and offering immersive experie...

Pata Negra Ham The Iberian Pork Interprofessional Association (ASICI) has launched an ambitious promotional campaign in London, 'Awaken Your Iberian Sense', aiming to elevate Iberian ham’s presence in the British market. This campaign, developed in collaboration with the European Union and the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, seeks to reinforce Iberian ham’s status as a premium gastronomic product in the UK. The campaign's grand opening was hosted at the prestigious Searcy’s at The Gherkin, an iconic London venue known for its upscale dining. The event welcomed an exclusive audience, including renowned local chefs, food industry professionals, and culinary influencers. Guests indulged in a specially curated menu featuring Iberian ham, a legendary delicacy representing the heart of Spanish and European culinary tradition. Why the UK Market Matters for Iberian Ham In an interview with EFE, Raúl García, President of ASICI, emphasized that the United Kingdom...

Meat Attraction Meat Attraction, the International Trade Fair for the meat sector, will return to IFEMA Madrid on February 25-27, 2025, with the 'Iberico Land' pavilion as one of its centerpieces. Aimed at promoting Iberian pork products, this space has become a cornerstone for national and international operators looking to explore commercial opportunities in the Iberian meat sector. Recently, a promotional day was held to showcase the potential of Iberian products, with more than 60 operators attending to learn more about the market and the unique offerings of Iberian ham, including the world-renowned Pata Negra ham . Raúl García, president of Iberaice, opened the day by emphasizing the importance of Meat Attraction in improving the positioning of Iberian products in international markets. "This event is a commitment by the sector to create initiatives that elevate our products and represents a unique opportunity for Iberian producers to increase sales domestically and i...