Suddenly, Dutch pork exports are increasing

European pork exports showed a slight recovery in the first eleven months of 2025. Pork exports rose by 3,2% during that period to 3.998.169 tons, reaching their highest level since 2022. However, exports are still significantly lower than before the war in Ukraine. Looking solely at data from before 2022, we have to go back to 2015 to find a lower export volume, although it was a record for that period. Meanwhile, the value of exports reached $11,4 billion.

Dutch exports rise sharply
Spain was once again the largest pork exporter in the European Union. In the first eleven months of the year, the country accounted for a whopping 35,5% of total exports. Volume reached 1.259.761 tons, a 3,1% increase year-on-year and the strongest export volume since 2023. The second-largest country accounted for approximately half of this sales volume. The Netherlands exported 636.275 tons from January through November, a 2,9% increase year-on-year.

Something remarkable is happening in the Netherlands. In the first four months of the year, the country exported around 60.000 tons per month. From May onwards, the volume dropped to around 50.000 tons – with the exception of July, when exports reached around 57.000 tons. In November, however, exports shot up sharply to 81.777 tons. Although exports in the first eleven months of 2025 were lower than in 2023, there does appear to be a recovery by the end of the year. A similarly strong December could mean that Dutch exports for the whole of 2025 will be higher than in 2024, but those figures are still some way off.

This stronger export performance is linked to the highly competitive Dutch meat price. Eurostat data shows that the Dutch pork price was significantly lower than in other European markets. In mid-November, in week 47, the average pork price in Europe was €175 per 100 kilos, and prices in major markets hovered around that level. In Spain, for example, €173,16 per 100 kilos was paid, and in Denmark the price was €176,35 per 100 kilos. Meanwhile, the price in the Netherlands was considerably lower: €128,71 per 100 kilos.

Danish exports recover strongly
Meanwhile, Danish exports were slightly lower than those of the Netherlands. Total exports amounted to 584.136 tons. However, the growth of the country's pig herd is clearly reflected in the data, as exports recovered significantly. Compared to the same period in 2024, exports increased by 6,4% in the first eleven months of the year.

Meanwhile, the recovery in German exports was completely wiped out. Total exports fell by 13,6%, from 356.480 tons to 304.387 tons. This means exports roughly fell from their 2025 level to their 2023 level. Finally, French exports remained virtually unchanged, declining by less than 0,1%.