Significantly more Danish pigs on slaughter hook in 2020

In total, Danish slaughterhouses processed around 4,5% more pigs last year than in 2019. According to figures from the Danish umbrella organization for the agriculture and food industry (L&F), approximately 17,46 million pigs were slaughtered.

Slaughter capacity during corona
The increase is surprising given the corona crisis and the temporary closure of slaughterhouses due to corona infections among staff. The Danish meat giant Danish Crown also had limited capacity due to the corona crisis. Not only was there an oversupply of fattening pigs in the Netherlands and Germany, there were also many pigs hanging over the market in Denmark. Danish Crown therefore brought one B price on the market to reduce the oversupply.

Growing exports to Asia
The increase in the number of slaughters in Denmark can be explained to some extent. International pork exports from Germany have largely come to a standstill due to the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in the country. Denmark has responded to this. Pork exports to Asia flourished. Significantly more pork could be exported and piglet and fattening pig exports to Germany dropped. Because domestic supply increased, it was possible to respond effectively to Chinese demand. Partly thanks to exports to Asia Danish Crown made a record profit, and that during the corona crisis.

pig stock
Not only was the number of slaughters higher, the pig herd has also grown. At the most recent count, on October 13, the pig herd numbered approximately 13,4 million head. Compared to the same period a year earlier, this is an increase of no less than 6,1%. Zooming in on the sow herd specifically, a growth of 4% is noted and the number of sows increased to 1,27 million.

Pig price
When we look at the development of the Danish pig price last year, we see a similar development as in other important pig countries in Europe. The pig price got off to a good start at the beginning of 2020 and the Danish price surpassed the €2 per kilo mark in March. 

Since then, the price has gone downhill due to the tougher market conditions. Denmark was the leader in the ISN price comparator, but that changed at the beginning of June. Spain dethroned Denmark and took the lead.

A little later, the Danish pork price even fell to third place and had to make way for France. The Danish quotation has now recovered somewhat and, together with Spain, shares first place in the price comparator at €1,46 per kilo.