Dutch piglet export: Spain top, Germany flop

In the third week of February, Dutch piglet exports to Spain rose to an all-time high of 72.341 according to RVO figures. In the same week, sales to Germany were a mere 35.742 piglets. Only in the broken weeks around the turn of the year 2023 were sales occasionally lower. These figures show that sales to Spain were twice as high. This while Spain has only recently surpassed Germany as the most important sales market. 

Whether the good Spanish demand will continue in the coming weeks remains to be seen now that prices are rising rapidly. The depreciated piglet prices, due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany last January, are the biggest driver behind the high sales.

Supply tight, but also resistance
Looking at the market picture, supply remains tight. This causes prices to rise further. Not only here, but also in Germany (VEZG) and certainly also in Belgium (Flemish piglet price). The DCA BestPigletPrice figures this week also indicate a new increase, despite traders also reporting increasing resistance from pig farmers who often find the increase in pig prices too slow.

The quotation rises this week by €2,50 to €60 per piglet, which is the highest level since last summer and also in line with the long-term average for this time of year.

Click here for an explanation from DCA Market Intelligence on the listing.