EU pig slaughter fell even further in May

By Bethan Wilkins

According to the latest figures from Eurostat, EU pig slaughter in May was nearly 8% down on the same month last year. Throughput totalled 18.8 million head, 1.6 million fewer than a year earlier, with COVID-19 related disruption taking its toll.

This meant that the number of pigs killed across the EU in the first five months of the year was down by 3% at 100.1 million head.

Slightly higher carcase weights meant pig meat production across the year to date was down by 2.5% on a year earlier at 9.47 million tonnes. Production in May alone was nearly 7% lower year-on-year.

Despite the overall downward movement in May, there were contrasting trends in different member states. Some countries that had faced disruption in April continued in the same vein; German throughput was 7% lower than last May and Italian slaughter was down by 17%.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands recorded a large fall for the first time (-28%), as did France (-14%). The scale of the decline reported in the Netherlands is larger than elsewhere, and while it is certain that pig throughput was affected by coronavirus outbreaks in abattoirs during the month, the decline is perhaps a little overstated.

In contrast, throughput was somewhat higher on the year in Denmark, Spain, and some of the smaller pig producers. Danish kill in May was up by nearly 2%. With falls earlier in the year though, Danish slaughter for the year to date was stable overall.

Subscribe to receive pork market news straight to your inbox. Simply complete our online form.

While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.

All intellectual property rights in the information and data on this webpage belong to or are licensed by AHDB. You are authorised to use such information for your internal business purposes only and you must not provide this information to any other third parties, including further publication of the information, or for commercial gain in any way whatsoever without the prior written permission of AHDB for each third party disclosure, publication or commercial arrangement. For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice or contact the Director of Corporate Affairs at info@ahdb.org.uk  © Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. All rights reserved.