News Pigs
'Pork market will remain under pressure for the time being'
The European pork market will remain under pressure for the foreseeable future, according to Rabobank's recent sector update. The EU sow herd remains stable, resulting in high production this year. This contrasts with earlier expectations. According to Rabobank, the high production level is leading to increasing export dependence.
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According to Rabobank, the strong margins in the first half of 2025 are the main reason the EU sow herd has remained stable. However, a clear downward trend in pig prices has been visible since July, partly due to seasonally lower demand in the summer and relatively ample supply. The anti-dumping duties imposed by China in September put additional price pressure, further eroding margins in the European pork supply chain.
Fortunately, production costs are developing favorably. According to RaboResearch, prices remain low due to a record corn harvest in the United States and higher-than-expected production in Brazil, which is putting pressure on global corn prices. The ample availability of corn is also depressing wheat prices. Although the US soybean harvest was lower than anticipated, the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Chinese demand for American soybeans is putting continued price pressure.