Pigs are bursting at the seams in Northwestern Europe

In the Netherlands, 319.000 pigs were slaughtered last week, weighing an average of 98,30 kilos. This is a weight increase of 0,30 kilos compared to the first week of January. Never before have pigs weighed so much.

In addition, the slaughter figure is more than 9% higher than in the same week last year. Compared to the 5-year average, it is a plus of 5,76%. A side note on the many slaughters is that week 1 was a broken slaughter week; in 2017 that was not the case.

As January progresses, the slaughter rate generally decreases. Also this year the expectation that the oversupply will disappear as January progresses.

France and Germany
In the week that German slaughterhouseshouse price' proclaimed, 1.005.644 pigs were hanging on the hooks. This is 7% more than in the same week last year. However, compared to the 5-year average, the percentage deviation is small.

While the weights are increasing in the Netherlands, the average weight (98,69 kilos) in Germany is slightly lower. In France, 397.686 pigs were slaughtered, about 10% more than that week last year.

Hangover at meat market
Slaughterhouse Danish Crown speaks of a 'hangover' on the meat market in Northwestern Europe, given the falling prices. The price of almost all parts is under pressure, especially sales of hams and the fore-end are poor, according to the meat company. In terms of volume, sales to Japan and China remain stable. This can be seen as a starting point for stabilizing pig prices.