EU pig meat production figures for May see the first year-on-year increase since November 2021, according to AHDB’s lead analyst Patty Clayton.
The EU pig meat production number totalled 1.9 million tonnes in May of this year, a 1.3% increase compared to May of 2021. In a further reversal of 2022 trends, throughput was also up year-on-year, reports Ms Clayton, “with just over 20 million pigs sent through abattoirs.”
Ms Clayton noted that the growth in EU production figures came mainly from France, Spain and Denmark, “where pig meat production was up by 8.5%, 2.8% and 7.9% respectively.” While “Italy and the Netherlands also saw a reversal of trend, with production up on the year after recording drops in the first four months of the year.”
Germany’s production figures, however, remained below 2021 levels, but by a lesser deficit than earlier in the year.
The year-to-date EU pig meat production numbers reached 9.5 million tonnes by May, which is 3.8% below the same period last year but is in line with the latest EU short term outlook – which predicted a 4% drop in production within the calendar year.
Ms Clayton concluded: “High input costs remain an issue, and, while prices are at relatively high levels, they have levelled off in recent weeks. Farm margins are therefore expected to remain under pressure, while environmental concerns, reduced exports to China and ASF will also weigh on markets.”
