July 10, 2024

EU pork production up 0.3% in Q1 2024

Total EU pork production saw marginal gains of 0.3% in the first quarter compared to 2023, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

Total production from January to March 2024 sat at 5.42 million tonnes, a minimal increase of 0.3% (18,200 tonnes) from the same time in 2023. The majority of the gains in production came from Poland which saw growth of 31,000 tonnes to 485,000 tonnes and Germany at 10,400 tonnes to 1.07 million tonnes. This was offset by large declines in key producing countries, such as Spain and Denmark which saw falls of 7,000 tonnes and 21,500 tonnes to 1.32 million tonnes and 344,000 tonnes, respectively.

Drops in EU production have limited export opportunities, as total pork (including offal) exports have fallen by 6% from 2023 in the year to date (January-April), to settle at just over 1.3 million tonnes. The majority of this decline has come from falling exports to China, which sat at 83,000 tonnes lower in the first four months of 2024, to 363,000 tonnes.

Other notable falls in volume have come from Japan, sitting at 13,200 tonnes lower in 2024 than 2023. There has been some growth to other Asian countries such as South Korea, the Philippines, and Vietnam to counteract declines.

EU imports of total pork (including offal) have fallen by 1,800 tonnes from the year-to-date total of 2023 to 2024. EU imports totaled 46,000 tonnes over this period in 2024, with declines in volumes from the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Notable gains have been made by Chile, increasing its volumes shipped by 4,800 tonnes into the European Union from 2023 to 2024 year-to-date.

Recent outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in Germany continue to cause huge disruption, as restrictions are imposed on farms, abattoirs, and butcher shops.

- AHDB