The proposed listing comes amid pricing pressures in the pork industry and mounting public scrutiny over the agriculture industry's ties to China.

Smithfield, which separated its European operations last year, confidentially filed for the U.S. IPO on Oct. 4. The IPO proceeds will be used for capital investments in infrastructure, automation and capacity expansion, Smithfield said.

Smithfield Foods, the world's largest pork producer, filed for an initial public offering in the US. Hong Kong-based WH Group, which purchased Smithfield for $4.7 billion in 2013, will sell some of its shares in the IPO,

Smithfield Foods Inc., the world’s largest pork producer, has filed for its initial public offering in the US, joining a growing number of firms pursuing market debuts this year.

Pork producer Smithfield Foods on Monday made public its paperwork for an initial public offering in the United States. The U.S. IPO market rebounded last year as stronger equity markets and strengthening bets of a soft landing for the economy encouraged companies to list their shares.

This marks a return to public trading circles for Smithfield, which went private more than a decade ago after being acquired by the WH Group, based in China. In mid-2024, WH Group announced that it was spinning off operations in the United States and Mexico and would focus on its business in China and Europe.

Smithfield Foods, Inc., an American food company and an industry leader in value-added packaged meats and fresh pork, today announced that it has publicly filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to sell shares of its common stock in an underwritten initial public offering.

Smithfield Foods previously traded on the New York Stock Exchange before China-based WH Group acquired the company and took it private in a $4.7 billion deal in 2013.