Pork exports set to break records

The European Commission has published a short-term forecast outlining production, consumption and exports for the coming years. It states, among other things, that the European Commission expects the export of European pork to increase by just under 2019% to 10 million tons in 2,9. This breaks the current record (2,8 million tons in 2018). Exports are expected to pass the 2020 million ton mark in 3 for the first time in history.

The increase in exports does not come as a surprise. China has been importing significant quantities of pork since the beginning of 2019. The reason for this is the outbreaks of African swine fever, which has now resulted in more than 1 million pigs being slaughtered in China. Rabobank expects that the Chinese pig production will shrink by as much as 35% this year.

Production increases negligibly
The European Commission also expects that pork production in the European Union will remain virtually stable in the coming years. For 2020, pork production is expected to amount to 24,2 million tons of pork, which is 0,5% more than in 2018. 

Pork consumption is losing ground. The European Commission expects consumption to reach 2020 million tonnes in 21,1, which is about 1% less than in 2018. This also means that consumption per inhabitant will decrease from 32,6 kilos per year to 32 kilos of pork. It should be noted that consumption in 2018 was considerably higher than in previous years.