Large pig slaughterhouses in Germany are conquering the market
During the pandemic year, large slaughterhouses in Germany have consolidated their position covering more than 82% of pig slaughter in the country, according to a report issued by the German Group of Pig Breeders (ISN). The number of pigs slaughtered in 2020 amounted to 53.28 million head. This represents a reduction of 1.91 million animals compared to 2019 (-3.5%). However, deliveries made to the ten largest slaughterhouses in the country, however, were only reduced by 1.4%, standing at 43.77 million pigs. Thus, the aggregate market share of these ten operators increased from 80.4% in 2019 to 82.2% in 2020, says the report.
The largest pork producer in the country, Tonnies reduced the slaughter figures compared to the previous year to 16.3 million pigs (-2.4%) due to a halt in operations caused by a COVID-19 outbreak in its largest abattoir. However, the reductions in Tönnies deliveries were less prominent than those observed in the federal average; its market share increased by 0.3% compared to 2019, standing at 30.6%.
Vion, the second-largest meat processor in the country, slaughter 7.6 million pigs, increasing its market share from 13.8% to 14.3%. The Westfleisch company came to occupy the third position in the ranking in 2020, with 7.47 million slaughtered animals (-3%), maintaining, however, its market share of 14%. Danish Crown, meanwhile, had to face a 6.6% decrease in slaughter, bringing the total number to 3.1 million units and reducing its market share from 6% to 5.8%. In fact, it was the only one in the Top-10 that did not strengthen its position in the market.
The Müller-Group managed to maintain the level of the number of slaughters of 2019 (2.1 million head). The slaughter carried out by Bösler Goldschmaus amounted to 1.85 million pigs (+ 4.5%). The Tummel company slaughtered 1.55 million pigs (+ 0.6%). The biggest advance was made by the Steinmann Holding Ltda slaughterhouse, which appears for the first time in the Top-10 ranking, with an increase of 10.7% and a total of 1.35 million slaughtered pigs. The main reason, but not the only one, was that last year it acquired the abattoirs owned by EGO. The Williams-Group slaughtered 1.34 million pigs (+ 2.3%). The ranking is closed by Simon-Fleisch, with 1.11 million pigs.
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