News Pigs
Worst scenario comes to pass at pig market
The worst-case scenario has materialized on the pig market. With a new sharp correction, the VEZG price has fallen to its lowest level since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The supply of pigs ready for slaughter is too high to sustain prices. Dutch slaughterhouses are also making significant cuts.
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The reductions didn't come out of the blue. In recent days, there was already much speculation about the extent of the German pork price reduction. This ranged roughly from five cents to perhaps even the fifteen cents that was ultimately implemented this afternoon. This brings the price down to €1,70 per kilo, which is only slightly higher than the average over the past ten years.
Since the war in Ukraine, the market has deviated from long-standing price levels and has been setting a string of records. In the summer of 2023, the market peaked at €2,50 per kilo. Despite high expectations, this price level was nowhere near matched in 2024. Forty cents have evaporated from the price since mid-2025. This is largely attributable to the overcrowded meat market in Europe, exacerbated by the Chinese import tariffs imposed on many slaughterhouses.
Dutch market
In the Netherlands, Vion is lowering its share price by five cents, while Westfort, Van Rooi, and Compaxo are removing ten cents from their asking price. This restores the balance between the quotes, as Vion had already lowered its share price by five cents last week.