EU market increased demand for pig meat

Growing consumption of pig meat in the EU is a trend that is expected to remain stable over the next 6 to 7 months, according to a report issued by AHDB. January production data from Eurostat reveals a year-on-year decline of 2% (-45,000 t0nnes), to 1.97 million tonnes. Pig slaughter in the bloc was 20.7 million head, less than 1% lower than in January 2021, showing that lighter weights also contributed to the lower monthly production figure.

Looking at the performance in some of the main production countries: production fell in Germany year-on-year (-12%, -50,000 tonnes), and also in Poland (-11%, -19,000 tonnes). Production was stable in France and the Netherlands, but it grew in Denmark (+4%, +7,000 tonnes) and in Spain (+8%, +38,000 tonnes). EU pig meat exports fell in January to 325,000 tonnes (cwe), a decline of 25% compared with the same month year before. They fell again in February by 36% year-on-year. Continued falling exports to both China (-70% in January and February combined) and the UK (-35%) were the main reason. Increases in export volumes to Japan, South Korea and the Philippines were not enough to offset these falls.

Industry market reports suggest that although the amount of pork in store was at high levels in January and February compared to previous years, it was being drawn down. If this is indeed the case, then supplies available for consumption could even be an underestimate; pork coming out of store would boost supplies offsetting some of the production decline.

Euromeat News.com