EU pig slaughter in June

By Bethan Wilkins

EU pig slaughter in June totalled 19.7 million head, 7% higher than a year earlier and the largest monthly kill since March. However, with two more weekdays than last June, the underlying position is still one of tightening supplies. Carcase weights have averaged slightly higher than last year, so monthly pig meat production was up by about 8%.

Overall throughput in the second quarter of the year was 3% down on the year at 57.6 million head, with a 2% fall for the year to date at 119.8 million head.

Throughput in June was higher across most major producing member states, although Italy recorded a 2% decrease (-21,000 head) on the year. Reflecting the trend for ongoing herd expansion, the Spanish kill increased most sharply, up by 16% (+617,000 head) year-on-year. A number of other producers also saw growth of about 10%, including France (+186,000 head), although the increase in some nations was much smaller. German throughput was up just 1% in June and so was still 2% lower for the first half of the year. In fact, Spain was the only country recording an increase for the year to date.

Slaughter figures for July are only available for countries accounting for about 10% of the EU total so far. The French data shows a 3% drop compared with July 2019.

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