November 14, 2023

Big increase in world's pig production costs last year

The InterPIG network has recently released data on production costs, sow productivity, and feed conversion from 17 countries.

According to the network, global pig production costs increased significantly in 2022, mainly due to the price of corn and soybean meal, impacted by both climatic and geopolitical events such as the war in Ukraine.

Among the 17 countries represented, Brazil still had the lowest cost of production in dollars per live kilogramme of pigs.

Last year, the cost of production in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso was US$1.13/kg live, while in Santa Catarina, it was US$1.28.

Brazil has lower costs than the United States (US$1.42/kg live), Denmark (US$1.49), Spain (US$1.66), the Netherlands (US$1.74) and Germany (US$1.83).

Production costs increased significantly in all countries represented and while the prices received for pigs also increased, in most countries, the price still ended up being less than the costs, generating losses for the industry — with the US being an exception.

 - EMBRAPA (Brazil)