January 11, 2011

EU pork requirement to increase 8% by 2020

EU demand for pork is expected to increase 8% to reach 22.3 million tonnes in 2020, said the European Commission in an agricultural market report.

Per capita pork consumption is estimated to grow to 43.3kg in 2020, an increase of close to 5% as compared to 2009. Meanwhile, pork production could grow by an average of 7% from 2009-2010 to reach 23.7 million tonnes.

"Despite the relatively favourable market outlook for pig meat, production prospects would remain conditional on a recovery in EU demand and limited interest from major exporters to fulfil EU sanitary requirements," the report stated. "On the short-term, a possible spread of the African swine fever virus from Russia into the EU remains a critical issue."

With a strengthening euro, EU pork exports would be affected and could decrease by 23% to 1.2 million tonnes in 2020.