News Pigs
Spain leading the way in pork exports in the EU
European pork exporters have managed to significantly increase the volume exported in March 2025 compared to March 2024. The strong month of March is a good follow-up to January and February, in which the volume exported also increased slightly. However, a side note is necessary with regard to the figures.
Read this article?
Become a subscriber and get instant access
Choose the subscription that suits you
The total exported volume increased by no less than 8% compared to March 2024 to a total of more than 375.000 tonnes, an increase of around 28.000 tonnes (March 2024 348.000 tonnes). This is also the highest monthly volume this year so far, after 361.000 and 367.000 tonnes were exported in January and February respectively. However, the differences between the countries are large.
Spain is leading the way
The increase is mainly due to the strong performance of Spanish exporters. In March, they exported 30.000 tonnes more than in March 2024, an increase of no less than 28%. Excluding Spain, exports fell by 2.000 tonnes.
The Netherlands exported almost 61.000 tonnes of pork in March, over 3.000 tonnes more than in March last year. Germany and Denmark exported less volume than a year earlier. Germany was still struggling with the consequences of the FMD outbreak in January.
Spain's share is increasing
With the impressive export figures, Spain is taking a new step in its influence on the European pig market. Spain's share in the export volume is now 37% of the total volume. In 2015, this share was still 15%. At that time, Germany was still the market leader with a share of 23%. In the meantime, Germany's share has dropped to 6%, prompted by the enormous shrinkage of the German pig population since then.