September 17, 2024

 

Resurgence in growth of EU pork production in H1 2024

 

Pork production in the EU-27 has seen some resurgence in growth in the first six months of 2024 compared to 2023, according to the United Kingdom's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

 

Across the continent, a production total of 10.5m tonnes in H1 2024 was seen, a growth of 164,000 tonnes (2%) from 2023. This growth has been driven by production gain across most EU nations.

 

Poland saw the largest increase up 80,000 tonnes to sit at 934,000 tonnes so far this year. Germany, the second largest producer in the EU, made production gains of nearly 19,000 tonnes to reach just under 2.1m tonnes up to June, while Danish production grew 2% to 673,000 tonnes.

 

However, Spain (the biggest producer in the European Union) saw a decline of just over 27,000 tonnes to 2.46m tonnes in 2024 so far.

 

Gains in production over the past year have been driven by increased slaughter numbers. Slaughter in the EU-27 bloc grew by 122,000 head up to June 2024, to sit at just under 110 million head. Polish pig kill increased by 634,000 head (7%) to total 9.7 million head so far in 2024, with Germany recording minor growth of 46,000 head to 21.9 million head.

 

Although production gains were seen in Denmark, pig kill recorded a fall of 248,000 head (3%) to 7.2 million head, which would suggest heavier carcase weights have been the driving force of production. However, Spanish slaughter numbers recorded the largest yearly decline, of 460,000 head to 26.2 million head.

 

EU imports of pork (including offal) have fallen by 3,500 tonnes to 69,900 tonnes in the first six months of the year compared to 2023. The UK remains the largest volume provider to the EU, shipping 48,900 tonnes  a market share of 70%. This is a decline of 3,500 tonnes from 2023.

 

Chile now stands as the second largest import provider to the EU. Pork volumes imported from Chile have grown substantially in the past two years, totalling 10,500 tonnes in 2024 so far. This is growth of 6,700 tonnes compared to the same period in 2023, when import volumes were lower in the first few months of the year. The ratification of the EU-Chile advanced framework agreement in 2022 allows more access for Chilean pork into the EU market, without full liberalisation on sensitive agricultural goods.

 

Swiss pork shipments to the EU have fallen 4,400 tonnes year-on-year to 5,800 tonnes with the market share falling from 14% in the first six months of 2023 to 8% in 2024.

 

EU pork export volumes have totalled 1.93m tonnes so far in 2024, a 4% (84,600 tonnes) fall from the previous year, despite increased production. Movements have been mixed across key shipping destinations with China and Japan driving most of the year-on-year decline.Meanwhile, the US and other Southeast Asian countries have recorded volume growth.

 

China remains the largest destination for EU pork exports, commanding a market share of 29%, with volumes totalling 550,000 tonnes, a fall of 80,500 tonnes (13%) from last year. However, within this total volume, offal sits 10,000 tonnes higher year-on-year, at 316,000 tonnes.

 

EU exports to China have struggled similarly to the UK, with an increase in market competition from Brazil, the US and Canada, combined with a struggling Chinese economy leading consumers to seek more affordable cuts.

 

- AHDB