Dutch slaughterhouses processed the lowest number of pigs in the first quarter of 2026 since 2009. The decline is linked to cessation schemes in the pig farming sector, which have caused the sector to shrink significantly in recent years.
From analysis of DCA Market IntelligenceBased on figures from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), it appears that a total of 3.733.125 pigs were slaughtered up to and including week 14. That is approximately 300.000 fewer than a year earlier, a decrease of 7,4%. The decline follows the National Livestock Farming Location Termination Scheme (Lbv), under which participating companies were required to empty their barns by the end of 2025 at the latest.
Although the greatest effect of these schemes now appears to have been absorbed, the impact remains visible in the slaughter figures in the first half of 2026. The number of pigs in the Netherlands fell to below 10 million in 2025, the lowest level in approximately 45 years.
Decline in multi-year perspective
The decline fits into a broader downward trend that has been visible since 2022. In the first quarter of peak year 2021, over 4,5 million pigs were still slaughtered. This means the current level is about 780.000 animals lower, a drop of over 17% in five years. However, pigs are being slaughtered at heavier weights on average, meaning total meat production has declined less sharply.
To compensate for the declining domestic supply, Dutch slaughterhouses have attracted more animals from export flows in recent years, particularly pigs that previously went to foreign slaughterhouses, such as in Germany. That capacity has now virtually disappeared. While approximately 930.000 slaughter pigs were exported in the first quarter of 2016, that volume will have fallen to about 100.000 animals by 2026.
Occupancy rate under pressure
The processing capacity of Dutch slaughterhouses stands at over 300.000 pigs per week. During the tightest weeks of the first quarter, the available supply, including import flows, amounted to approximately 270.000 animals. In view of the seasonally lower supply during the summer months, it is expected that capacity cannot be fully utilized in the coming period.
Uncertainty regarding price developments
It is uncertain whether the tighter supply will lead to higher pig prices. Dutch slaughterhouses operate in a strongly export-oriented market and depend on sales within Europe. The supply of pork there is currently abundant, partly due to higher animal numbers in countries such as Spain, Germany, and Denmark.
According to Wageningen University & Research, the self-sufficiency rate of the Dutch pork chain is still around 300%. This creates a tension: slaughterhouses have an interest in sufficient supply to utilize their capacity, but remain reluctant to raise purchasing prices due to limited sales opportunities.
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