Inside Pigs
Declining piglet exports take an extra hit due to heat
The export of Dutch piglets fell below the 30 mark in week 100.000. In the measurement series of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl), which dates back to 2016, fewer than 100.000 piglets per week were exported in uninterrupted trading weeks.
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The figures for piglet exports clearly show a decrease in the number of piglets exported since the beginning of June (week 23). That week, more than 140.000 piglets crossed the border every week. The decline in exports to Spain is the strongest in percentage terms. In week 23, almost 21.000 piglets were transported to Spain, while in week 30 (when it was unprecedentedly hot in the Netherlands) less than 13.000 piglets were exported to this country. In previous years the effect of the summer heat was not noticeable.
European differences in piglet prices
In addition to the unprecedented heat (which has postponed piglet exports), the seasonal pattern also has an effect. For this reason, fattening pig companies abroad are postponing the start of a new round of fattening pigs. Pricing in Germany and Spain has probably also had a negative effect on piglet exports.
The European Commission has never before recorded an average European piglet price of more than €60 per piglet, while Dutch piglets cost an average of more than €60 per piglet for weeks (including allowances). This caused meat pig farmers abroad to look for alternatives.
Since the heat is over, traders expect that the weekly volume of export piglets will soon be above 100.000 per week again. However, there also appears to be a downward trend. The number of sows in the Netherlands has decreased compared to recent years. And that will remain the case, given the stopper scheme and the warm restructuring. It is difficult to estimate how large the decrease in breeding sows will be.
Piglet surplus decreased
In the past, the decline in the sow population was sometimes compensated by more weaned piglets per sow. However, this number is hardly growing at the moment. Moreover, it provides improved returns in the Dutch fattening pig farming industry for more domestic demand.
The so-called 'piglet surplus' has decreased. It has been a trend for years that Dutch piglet exports are stabilizing or decreasing, while Danish piglet exports are growing year on year. This is mainly due to growing sales in Poland and Germany.