Piglet exports to Spain show recovery after all

After the number of exported piglets has increased in recent months, had sunk considerably While exports in the first weeks of the new year reached over 25.000 piglets per week, export figures in the third week were, somewhat surprisingly, significantly higher. According to figures from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), nearly 47.000 piglets crossed the Spanish border. Just under 41.000 piglets were sold to Germany. However, this figure is still considerably lower than last year, when an average of around 59.000 piglets went to Spanish buyers in the first three weeks of the year. The long-term average was, however, exceeded in week 3. 

Trade not convinced yet
Although insiders say the piglet trade is running somewhat more smoothly than a few weeks ago, it's too early to be optimistic, especially regarding exports to Spain. It seems slaughterhouses there have managed to break through the "pig glut" somewhat, and there's a bit more room for piglets here and there. However, it's mainly free-range piglets that are being sold, and little trade is done based on fixed agreements or long-term contracts.

Spanish integrationists and pig farmers first want more clarity on how pig prices will develop in the coming months. The main question is whether prices will recover towards spring and summer. Pork supply in Europe is plentiful, and slaughterhouses complain about difficult meat sales.

Higher piglet price
Although Spanish piglet prices have shown some recovery in recent weeks, prices are at a completely different level than a year ago. This indicates that, while the market appears to have recovered somewhat, there is still no real recovery. Moreover, there is traditionally increased demand from Spain in the first few months of the year to ensure sufficient slaughter-ready animals are available during the summer months. The big question is how the trade will develop from mid-2026 onwards.