According to the latest data from the EU Commission, pig meat production in November 2021 rose 2% on the same month the previous year to 2.1 million tonnes across EU member states.
An increase in Spanish output continues to support overall continental pig meat production levels, with 494,000 tonnes produced there during the month, up 7% year-on-year.
Greater production was also seen in Denmark, up 8% year-on-year to 169,000 tonnes.
However, lower production in Germany and to a lesser extent Poland continued to weigh on overall continental production levels, particularly during the second half of 2021.
For the year to November, a total of 21.4 million tonnes of pig meat was produced in the EU, 2% more than the same period a year ago.
Pig slaughter stood at 228 million head (+2%) for the year to November, including the addition of the 22.4 million head slaughtered in November.
“EU pig prices have been under pressure since the middle of 2021, reflecting a very well supplied market amid curtailed exports, due to subdued domestic foodservice demand (compared to pre-pandemic) and lower demand from China,” commented AHDB livestock analyst Hannah Clarke
“The latter has been influenced by recovering Chinese pork production, and the country’s enduring suspension of German pork shipments due to ASF concerns.
EU Commission forecasts EU pig meat production to rise slightly again in 2022, as exports are forecast to increase by 7%, However, Ms Clarke pointed out that industry analysts forecast the continued recovery of Chinese pork production in 2022, which could limit the quantity of pork leaving the EU.
