By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 28 September 2026

Singapore rears no pigs of its own and buys pork from more than 20 sources. “Fresh” pork, the kind sold at wet market pork stalls and fresh counters, comes from live pigs brought in and slaughtered here, now mainly from Sarawak in Malaysia. Chilled pork arrives from countries such as Australia and Canada, and frozen pork from Brazil, the United States, Spain and China, among others. Fresh pork costs more because it depends on a short, specialised supply line of live animals; frozen pork usually costs the least.

That line was tested in April 2023, when African swine fever was found in pigs from Pulau Bulan in Indonesia and imports from there stopped. The disease does not affect people, and the pork on sale stayed safe. What changed was the price and availability of fresh pork, until other sources filled the gap.

Pork in Singapore: quick facts

Local pig farming	None; Singapore rears no pigs
Sources	More than 20
Fresh pork	From live pigs slaughtered in Singapore; Sarawak, Malaysia is the main live-pig source
Chilled pork	From countries including Australia and Canada
Frozen pork	From countries including Brazil, the United States, Spain and China
African swine fever	Does not affect humans; pork that passes inspection is safe to eat

The WahLiao Verdict

Cost	Fresh pork usually costs the most per kilo; frozen the least.
What you get	From fresh, the texture many Singapore dishes are built around; from frozen, the same meat at a lower price for most cooking.
The alternative	Chilled or frozen pork, thawed properly, for braises, stews, mince and stir-fries.
Worth it for	Paying for fresh when the dish depends on it, such as soups, steamed dishes and bak chor mee at home.
Skip it if	The pork is going into a long braise. Frozen will do the job.
Last verified	28 September 2026, against the Singapore Food Agency and published reporting.

Where does Singapore’s pork come from?

Pork is the red meat Singapore eats most: in 2016 the country imported close to 117,000 tonnes of pork, against about 29,000 tonnes of beef and 15,000 tonnes of mutton. With no pigs reared locally, all of it is imported, from more than 20 sources.

For fresh pork, the supply line has changed over time. For many years it came almost entirely from live pigs raised on Pulau Bulan, near Batam in Indonesia. In November 2017, Singapore received its first live pigs from Sarawak, the first live-pig imports from Malaysia in 18 years, after a ban imposed in 1999 following the Nipah virus outbreak. Today Sarawak is the main source of live pigs, which are slaughtered here and sold as fresh pork. FairPrice Group, through its subsidiary OJJ Foods, is the sole importer of live pigs.

Fresh, chilled or frozen pork: what is the difference?

• Fresh pork comes from live pigs slaughtered in Singapore. It is what most wet market pork stalls and many cooks prefer.
• Chilled pork is slaughtered abroad and kept cold, but not frozen, to the shelf. It needs a fast cold chain and has a short shelf life.
• Frozen pork is frozen for sea freight, which keeps its price down. Thawed properly in the fridge, it suits most home cooking.

Our guide to chilled, frozen and thawed meat explains the labels, and why selling thawed meat as chilled is an offence.

What happened when African swine fever was found?

In April 2023 the Singapore Food Agency found African swine fever in pig carcasses from a consignment of live pigs from Pulau Bulan, the first time the disease had been detected in pigs imported into Singapore. It stopped live-pig imports from Pulau Bulan and warned of temporary disruption to freshly slaughtered pork from 23 April. The island supplied about 15 per cent of Singapore’s total pork, but about two-thirds of its freshly slaughtered pork, so fresh pork was hit hardest.

The agency stressed that the disease does not affect humans and is not a food safety concern, and that pork on sale remained safe. Importers increased chilled and frozen supplies from other sources, and live pigs from Sarawak continued. In January 2026 the agency said it was working with Indonesia on a possible resumption of imports from Pulau Bulan, subject to an official assessment when the farm is ready.

Why does the price of pork change?

• Disease outbreaks that close a source, as in 2023.
• Festive demand, especially before Chinese New Year, when live-pig imports are usually increased to meet demand.
• Feed and freight costs abroad.
• The mix of fresh, chilled and frozen on sale, since fresh costs more to supply.
• Exchange rates with supplying countries.

How to pay less for pork

1. Compare per kilo, for the same cut and the same state.
2. Use frozen or chilled pork for braises, curries and mince.
3. Choose cheaper cuts such as shoulder for slow cooking.
4. Buy ahead of festive peaks and freeze, if you have space.
5. Thaw in the fridge and cook within a day of thawing.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Singapore’s pork come from?

From more than 20 sources. Fresh pork comes from live pigs slaughtered in Singapore, mainly from Sarawak; chilled and frozen pork come from countries including Australia, Canada, Brazil, the United States, Spain and China.

What is fresh pork in Singapore?

Pork from live pigs slaughtered in Singapore, as opposed to chilled or frozen pork imported from abattoirs abroad.

Is pork safe to eat after African swine fever?

Yes. African swine fever does not affect humans and is not a food safety concern; pork that passes inspection is safe to eat.

Why is fresh pork more expensive?

Because it depends on a specialised supply of live pigs, slaughtered locally and sold quickly, while frozen pork can travel cheaply by sea.

Does Singapore still import pigs from Pulau Bulan?

Imports stopped in April 2023. In January 2026 the Singapore Food Agency said it was working towards a possible resumption, subject to an official assessment.

Read next

This page belongs to How Supermarket Works, our series on the grocery network behind the shelf. Continue with chicken in Singapore and wet market versus supermarket.

Sources checked 28 September 2026: SFA, ASF detected in pigs from Bulan (April 2023); SFA, Diversifying Singapore’s sources of pork; reporting of SFA’s statement on a possible resumption of Pulau Bulan imports and of FairPrice’s live-pig imports (January 2026). Last updated 28 September 2026.