European pig herd decreases by 5,2%

According to the most recent EU count, the European pig population decreased by 5,2%. Among the European core markets, Germany and Denmark clearly stand out. The pig herd in our eastern neighbors decreased by 10,2%. In Denmark, the total number of pigs fell by 12,2%. The French and Polish markets were also struggling. The French pig herd fell by 5,9%, while the Polish pig herd decreased by 6%. Spain did a little better. In the southern European country, the pig herd fell by only 1,1%. The largest decline can be seen among countries with relatively small pork production. For example, the pig sector declined sharply in Bulgaria (-26,4%), and Malta (-26,2%) and Slovakia (-16%).

It is striking that the Dutch pig herd is declining much less rapidly than the Dutch slaughter figure. The number of pigs in the Netherlands decreased by 1,5%, while the slaughter rate fell by as much as 9,8%. This difference can partly be explained by live cattle exports to Germany. In our eastern neighbors the number of slaughters decreased less sharply than the pig herd. In Germany, the pig herd decreased by 10,2%, while 2023% fewer pigs were slaughtered in the first three months of 8,1.

The sow population also does not bode well for the future. In total, the number of sows in the European Union decreased by 4,6%. Once again, the Dutch and Spanish figures are better than expected. The number of sows in the Netherlands fell slightly more than the number of pigs, by 2,4%. In Spain, the sow population fell slightly less sharply, by 0,7%. France and Poland weaker than the European average. The French pig population fell by 6,5%, while Poland suffered a decline of no less than 9,4%.

Denmark and Germany also performed poorly in the sow population. The Danish sow herd decreased by as much as 2022% in 12,2, while the German sow herd decreased by 10,2%. Once again, small markets are leading the decline. For example, the Croatian sow herd fell by 18,3%, the Bulgarian sow herd by 18,8% and the number of sows in Luxembourg fell by 20,3%.

Two climbers
Only two countries managed to escape the lower pig stocks. In Italy, the pig herd increased by 3,9%. The growth of the sow herd is particularly striking. In the southern European country, the number of sows increased by 25,8%. In addition, the Swedish pig herd increased by 3,2%. Although it is questionable whether growth will continue, because in the same period the sow herd in the Scandinavian country decreased by 1,8%.