European pig exports are clearly stagnating

European pigmeat exports increased slightly by 2024% in 0,4, from 4,19 million tonnes to 4,2 million tonnes. Compared to previous years, this must be considered a stagnation. Compared to 2022, exports were 18,5% lower and compared to 2021, exports fell by 30,6%. The value of exports also increased slightly. In 2024, the Member States together exported €12,66 billion worth of pigmeat. This is an increase of 0,8% compared to the previous year, when exports amounted to €12,56 billion.

Spain benefits from large sales of meat parts
The proportions of exports have hardly changed compared to 2023. The main exporter was Spain. The country's exports were 1,32 million tonnes, far exceeding the exports of the rest. The Netherlands emerged as the second largest European player on the world market in 2024. The Netherlands exported around 665.500 tonnes of pork. Denmark follows closely behind, with an export of 598.000 tonnes.  

Spain has a clear advantage compared to other European countries, as it exports the most meat parts in relation to the other major exporters. 52,4% of Spanish exports consist of meat parts. That is about 10 percentage points more than the share of number two, Denmark, which sells 42,5% of meat parts. In contrast, Dutch exports to third countries consist of 32,8% of meat parts.

This is despite the relatively high average price of Spanish pork. The Spanish export price is €3.260 per tonne. Only the Danish export price is higher. The country's export price is €3.360 per tonne due to high salaries in the meat sector. The fact that the high prices do not dampen the success is largely due to the fact that Spain produces a lot of meat from luxury pigs of the Duroc or Iberico breed.

Of all the major exporters, the Dutch average price of €3.150 per tonne comes in third. It should come as no surprise, but Polish prices are the lowest of the major exporters. The average price per tonne in the Eastern European country comes to €2.660 per tonne.

Stagnant exports
In broad terms, exports to most major markets are stagnating. For example, exports from the United Kingdom rose by a fraction of a percent from 875.000 tons to 877.000 tons. Exports to other traditionally large markets fell slightly due to strong competition from Brazil and the United States. Exports to the largest sales market, China, fell by 3,6% to 1,15 million tons. Compared to the decline of over 20% per year over the past three years, this is also a case of stagnation. Exports to Japan, meanwhile, fell by 1% to 317.000 tons. Exports to South Korea, on the other hand, rose by 3,8% to 236.500 tons.

Exports to the Philippines did increase by 23,9% to 364.000 tonnes. Due to outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF), the country imported significantly larger volumes where available, regardless of price. Finally, it is notable that exports to the United States increased by 12,9% to 105.000 tonnes, while the country is exporting a lot because American prices are well below European prices. However, this does not come as a complete surprise. Due to new, strict animal welfare legislation in California, there is a tight supply of meat that meets these new standards. Since the European standards already met this legislation, several European countries are able to benefit from this.