German slaughter pig supply almost exactly at the previous year's level
New data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) for the period from January to April 2026 illustrates the stability of the German live pig market. In the first four months of this year, a total of 15.05 million pigs were commercially slaughtered in Germany. This figure is virtually identical (-0.1%) to the same period last year, when 15.07 million pigs were slaughtered.
As the year progresses, the latest livestock census results indicate that the sideways movement in supply is likely to continue. The most recent ISN forecast anticipates a minimal increase in slaughterings of 0.3% compared to the previous year for the entire year of 2026. Following the dramatic declines in herd numbers in recent years, the live supply has now stabilized at a historically low level. Seasonally, the usual effects mean that the slaughter volume in June – as in previous years – is approximately 5 to 7% below the average volumes for autumn and winter.
At the European level, the picture needs to be viewed in a more nuanced way. While complete official slaughter figures are currently only available for January across the EU, initial figures from major pig-producing countries suggest that slaughter volumes in the EU were slightly above the previous year's level in the first third of the year. However, the European Commission expects slaughter numbers to decline over the remainder of the year. Based on the declining sow populations shown in the latest livestock censuses, it anticipates a 1.0% decrease in pig slaughter for the entire year of 2026.
The slaughter figures suggest that the main reasons for the lack of price dynamics are unlikely to be found in the domestic live animal market. The focus is instead on the demand side. In particular, the ample supply of meat to the EU internal market – partly influenced by restrictions on exports to third countries – is likely playing a significant role.
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