After a period of significant pressure on pig production in Eastern Europe, the sector has seen a recovery in recent years. High market prices and improved control of the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) have had a clear impact on production figures, with a significant recovery in the number of slaughters.
The former Eastern Bloc has three major pig-producing countries: Poland, Hungary, and Romania. After appearing to be the promised land for enterprising pig farmers between 2010 and 2015, the rise of the ASF virus put a significant dampener on those plans, halting the rapid growth in pig numbers. Many farms were affected by ASF in the ensuing period and culled, often including large ones.
Dip in number of slaughters in 2023
Although ASF has certainly not disappeared from the region, farms now appear to be better organized to keep the virus at bay. The number of infections on pig farms in Poland peaked between 2017 and 2021. In subsequent years, the number of outbreaks on farms was significantly lower. With the associated high prices for fattening pigs and piglets in recent years, pork production in Eastern Europe has now clearly resumed its upward trend.
Between January and July 2025, Poland, Hungary, and Romania together produced 16,36 million pigs for slaughter. This represents a significant increase compared to the 15,89 million pigs produced in the same period in 2024 and the 14,66 million pigs produced in 2023. Compared to 2024, this represents a 3% increase in the number of slaughtered pigs.
Although the increase over the past two years has been significant, the figures are still nowhere near the record levels of 2018, when the aforementioned countries collectively produced 18,38 million pigs for meat production.
Because the average slaughtered weight has also increased significantly in Eastern Europe in recent years, total pork production is approaching the record volumes of 2018. In the first seven months of 2025, total pork production amounted to 1,60 million tons. In 2023, this volume was still 1,37 million tons. In two years, pork production has therefore grown by 16,8%.
Another factor to consider
The growing production in Poland, Hungary, and Romania, especially if the upward trend continues, is also a factor to keep an eye on for the pig farming sector in Western Europe. Over the past five years, the import demand from these Eastern Bloc countries has already decreased significantly, and for the period from January to July of this year, export volumes are significantly higher than last year's levels. In other words, the increasing production is partly being sold on external markets.
To put the size of the sectors in these countries into perspective, the development of the number of slaughters in the Netherlands and those in Poland, Hungary, and Romania is shown in the table below. This is based on Eurostat figures. In addition to slaughtering pigs for meat, this includes sow slaughters.
|
Number of pig slaughters in millions of animals (January to July) |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Netherlands (Source: RVO.nl, up to week 31) |
8,76 |
8,68 |
8,42 |
|
Poland (Source: Eurostat) |
10,46 |
11,42 |
11,90 |
|
Hungary (Source: Eurostat) |
2,55 |
2,73 |
2,84 |
|
Romania (Source: Eurostat) |
1,65 |
1,75 |
1,90 |
Subsidy for strengthening pig farming
Besides the fact that Eastern Europe offers ample opportunities for entrepreneurship in the pig farming sector, the business climate also plays a role. For example, the Hungarian government has stimulated pig production in recent years through various subsidies. This has led to investments in large facilities for sows and finishers. Subsidy programs are also designed to facilitate favorable borrowing conditions. Interest rates in Hungary are high, which normally makes financing in the country expensive and increases the cost.
Dutch businesses have also invested in the country in recent years. However, outbreaks of animal diseases remain a risk. In addition to the ASF virus, foot-and-mouth disease has also been a threat since this year.