Suddenly Poland has more pigs again

No country in Europe experiences such fluctuations in the pig population than Poland. For example, in 2005 Poland had 18,5 million pigs, in 2008 this was 14,2 million and in 2015 the Polish pig herd still numbered 10,5 million animals. The figures for 2015 were the lowest since Eurostat data have been available. In recent years, Poland has always had the sixth largest pig herd in Europe, after Germany, Spain, France, Denmark and the Netherlands. This means that Poland does not directly shape the pig market in Europe, but it can influence it.

Polish figures show that the pig herd in Poland again exceeded 2016 million animals in December 11. Compared to 2015, the number of pigs in Poland has increased by 4,9 percent to more than 11,1 million pigs. An increase in piglets (+8,4 percent) and pregnant sows (+8,2 percent) in particular contributes to growth. The reason for the fluctuating pig herd is due to a number of factors. For example, the Polish pig herd has been struggling with African swine fever for several years, which has forced a number of pig farms to close down.

The recent growth of the pig herd is mainly achieved with supplies from other European countries. In 2016, Poland imported 4,8 million piglets weighing an average of 30,1 kilos. Compared to 2015, this is an increase of 5,2 percent. Danish piglet exports in particular can benefit greatly from Polish demand, with prices rising to around 70 euros per piglet.

The Dutch pig sector is reaping little benefit from the Polish import drive. In the past, more Dutch piglets crossed the Polish border, but this demand has weakened in recent years due to quality issues. Because the Netherlands delivered piglets that weighed just over 20 kilos, Polish pig farmers shifted demand to Denmark. The thinking goes that Danish piglets better meet the set quality standards. In 2016, for example, the Netherlands exported just over 300.000 piglets to Poland. This means that the Netherlands only has a little more than 5 percent market share on the Polish market. The export of live pigs from the Netherlands to Poland was nil in 2016. 

In terms of export figures outside Europe, the Polish pig sector can keep up with the growth that countries such as the Netherlands, France and Germany experienced in 2016. In the first 11 months of 2016, Polish exports increased by 27 percent to more than 189.000 tons. These figures make Poland the sixth largest exporter of pork in Europe.