June 10, 2024

Portugal's export of piglets for finishing, pigs for slaughter up by 19.5% in Q1 2024

Portugal's pig exports, specifically, piglets for finishing and pigs for slaughter, increased by 19.5% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year, going from 146,624 head in 2023 to 175,140 head in 2024 (+28,516 head).

Breaking down these figures, 106,745 pigs were sent for slaughter in Q1 2024, 11,063 more than in 2023, and 68,395 piglets were sent for finishing, 17,453 more than last year.

The total weight of these animals increased by 15.4% compared to last year, from 11,711 tonnes in 2023 to 13,514 tonnes in 2024. Thus, the total weight of slaughter pigs was 12,310 tonnes, providing an average live weight of 115.3kg. The total weight of piglets was 1,204 tonnes, giving an average live weight of 17.6kg.

However, Portugal's pork exports were down 21% in the first three months of 2024 compared to 2023, with total sales abroad at 9,893 tonnes in 2024 and 12,518 tonnes in 2023.

Frozen pork sales fell by 25.5% from 5,577 tonnes in 2023 to 4,157 tonnes in 2024. Fresh and chilled pork exports fell by 6.7% compared to 2023, from 3,688 tonnes in 2023 to 3,441 tonnes in 2024. Offal sales also fell, by 29.4%, from 3,253 tonnes in 2023 to 2,295 tonnes in 2024.

- Newsletter Suínos nº 20, SIMA