EU pork prices down, trade stable, but ASF set to test market stability
EU pig meat production has continued to strengthen year-on-year, up 3% between January and August and exports increased by 1% in the first nine months of the year, totalling 2.9 million tonnes.
Prices
EU grade S reference pig prices have been declining since the end of June, reaching 149.24p/kg for the week ending 30 November. This is the lowest level since March 2022 where the price averaged 138.03p/kg. Since the start of November, prices have fallen 5.35p, including a 3.40p drop in the most recent week (30 November).
Downward pressure on EU pig prices has been driven by higher supplies and weaker demand.
The difference between the UK reference price and EU average stood at 53.33p in the week ending 30 November.
Since 2014 the gap between UK and EU price has exceeded 50p on only five occasions, all of which took place in 2025. This widening gap between prices may make EU pork appear more attractive on a cost basis to buyers.
Spain has experienced the largest price drop, with values falling by 47p from their summer peak.
The confirmation that African swine fever (ASF) has been detected in wild boar in Spain on 27 November will cause significant downwards pressure on pig prices across the region.
Production
Full production data for the EU27 is currently only available up to August, as the Netherlands and Italy are yet to submit monthly data for September.
For the period Jan-Aug EU pig meat production totalled 14.4 million tonnes, a year-on-year (YoY) increase of 3% (415,600 t).
Spain was a key driver of the overall growth in the EU27 increasing production by 6% (203,530 t) Jan-Aug. Looking at national data for the month of October, Spanish pig meat has continued to perform strongly up 5% compared to the same month last year.
Other key producing nations showing strong production gains are Poland (5%, +59,100 t), (6% +49,070 t), and Italy (4% +30,500 t). Germany recorded more modest growth YoY of 1% (+28,900t).
However, production declines were recorded in France and the Netherlands, with both countries posting a 1% decrease, with Belgium down 2% YoY.
Production trends have been driven by a combination of slaughter numbers and heavier carcase weights.
EU pig slaughter reached 148.6 million head between January and August, up 1% YoY.
Again, Spain drove slaughter growth with a 4% increase (1.5 million head), and October volumes continued to rise, gaining 3% compared to the same month last year.
Poland also showed strong slaughter growth up 4% (458,900 head) totalling 13.5 million head. Germany and Denmark remained broadly stable YoY.
On the other hand, slaughter fell in the Netherlands and France by 1%. While Belgium posted a steeper decline of 3% (179,600 head).
Exports
EU pig meat exports totalled 2.9 million tonnes (January to September) this was an increase of 1% (25,500 t) YoY. Overall, export volumes have remained relatively stable since 2023.
Only three of the EU’s top ten pig meat export destinations have recorded growth in 2025 – Vietnam, Ivory Coast and Republic of Congo – primarily driven by increased offal shipments.
All of the top five countries (China, UK, Philippines, Japan and South Korea) recorded volume decline.
China remained the largest export destination for EU pig meat, totalling 820,100 t. However, exports to China have fallen by 2% (-20,300 t) YoY, driven by lower shipments of fresh/frozen pork, which decreased by 6% (-22,400 t) YoY, totalling 338,600 t. This is the lowest volume of fresh/frozen shipments to China by the EU since 2015.
The introduction of anti-dumping duties on EU has led to a sharp drop in shipments to China in September. Offal exports that month were the lowest since April 2014, while fresh/frozen pork volumes fell 30% from August, marking their weakest performance since August 2014.
The UK remains the second leading destination for EU pig meat exports, totalling 560,500 t for the year to date, however, volumes are down 5% (-29,400 t) YoY.
The overall decline is a result of lower exports at the beginning of the year due to FMD in Germany. UK imports from Germany have now recovered, with September volumes back in line with previous years.
Shipments to Japan had the largest decrease YoY, down 20% (-49,000 t). This is the lowest the year-to-date shipments have been since 2013.
This decline was driven by a fall of fresh/frozen pork, which decreased by -20% (45,700 t) YoY. This stark decrease is due to lower domestic demand, extreme hot weather and the cost of rice increasing, according to Rabobank.
EU exports to Vietnam increased by 22% (18,900 t) YoY totalling 193,800 t. Both offal and fresh/frozen drove this, with an increase of (12,400 t) and (6,000 t), respectively YoY. This increase has potentially been caused by outbreaks of ASF in Vietnam.
Spain holds the largest share of EU exports at 67%, followed by Germany at 44%.
Other key contributors include Denmark (28%), Belgium (18%), Poland (16%) and France (14%).
Imports
EU pig meat imports have totalled 99,600 t so far in 2025 (January to September,) a decrease of 3% (-3,600 t) YoY. The UK remained the biggest supplier at 76,400 t.
Chile is the second largest supplier to the EU for the second year running, shipping 6,600 t of pig meat. This volume is however down by nearly half compared to 2024.
Switzerland, which has historically stood in second place, also saw a notable decrease, with shipments declining by 22% (-1,800 t) YoY. This was partially counterbalanced by an increase of shipments from Norway, up 19% (725 t) YoY to 4,600 t.
EU pig meat imports have declined due to higher domestic production paired with softening consumer demand.
African swine fever
The announcement of African swine fever (ASF) detected in wild boar in Spain on 27 November will have meaningful implications for the EU pork market.
Spain is EU’s largest producer and exporter of pig meat and is globally significant as the second largest exporter and third largest producer. Catalonia, the region in Spain where ASF is currently present, accounts for around 40% of Spanish pig meat production.
Although regionalisation has been granted for some key export markets (EU, UK, and China), Spanish product can no longer enter most established export channels. This will lead to substantial volumes being redirected into the domestic EU market, likely at heavily discounted prices.
The resulting oversupply will depress market sentiment, pressuring prices downward, and may lead to Spanish product displacing other EU producers from their traditional market base.
While Spain faces trading constraints, other EU producers may see some uplift in global demand as buyers seek alternatives. However, the volume loss from Spain is unlikely to be offset from other European countries due to differing trading agreements. For example, Germany, the second largest EU producer, remains excluded from the Chinese market.
This means the large global exporters such as Brazil, the USA and Canada are likely to capture most of the demand.
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The cases detected to date have been concentrated in wild boars in a very limited area, with no f...
