EU pig slaughter stable in September

EU pig slaughter in September totalled 20.9 million head, not quite 1% lower than a year ago. Throughputs in the major producing countries of Germany and Denmark fell, by 6% and 10% respectively. However, these declines were offset to a large degree by an 8% increase in Spanish slaughter. Across of the rest of the bloc, production fell only slightly.

This brings the number of pigs slaughtered during the first three quarters of the year to 185.1 million head. This is still 2% higher compared with the same period in 2020, and enough to keep the EU well supplied with pork.

Pig meat production in September totalled 1.93 million tonnes, around 1% lower year on year. Production for the year to date is therefore 17.41 million tonnes, 2% higher than during the first nine months of 2020.

Prices for pigs in the EU have fallen dramatically over the past several months. Pig meat exports from the region, although higher in the year so far, have not been able to keep pace with the increase in production. This means product is finding a home within the EU itself, and this is slowly replacing lost export opportunities. However, drawing out this demand has not been easy, it would probably need Chinese import demand to pick up in the New Year, to mark a quicker reversal of fortune for the sector.

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