EU pigmeat production slows in early 2022
The latest data from the European Commission has found that the EU produced 1.9 million tonnes of pig meat in February, 4% less than the same month a year before.
In the first two months of the year, the EU produced 3.8 million tonnes of pig meat, 3% less than the year before. Pig slaughter also fell during the same period, with 40.5 million pigs slaughtered marking a decline of 2%.
For January and February combined, notable changes within the overall group were a 11% drop in German pig meat production, a 7% fall in Italian production, a 7% fall in Polish production and an 8% fall in Belgian production.
Spain bucked the trend, with production growing year on year, by 6% over the first two months of 2022.
The EU is forecasting a 3% fall in European pig meat production in 2022, in response to lower profitability in the sector.
According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), European pig producers face high and increasing costs for feed and other inputs, and just as in the UK, have been calling for local retailers to put money into their pig prices.
Rising farm gate prices seen in most major markets have slowed, although the EU average is still climbing, as are prices in Spain in particular.
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