UECBV: Chinese tariffs threaten stability of the European pork sector
It is too early to quantify the full economic impact, but the consequences will be felt across the Union. The most immediate pressure will be on producers in Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, but the repercussions will extend to farmers and processors throughout Europe.
China is the world’s largest pork importer, and the European Union is its leading supplier. In 2024, the EU exported more than 1.1 million tons of pork to China, and prospects for 2025 were positive before the introduction of these measures. This trade relationship has been built on the EU’s ability to provide large volumes of safe, high-quality pork at competitive prices.
EU exporters have also achieved a high level of specialisation in products tailored specifically for the Chinese market. Most of these products are not consumed in the EU due to consumers’ preferences. Redirecting these volumes to alternative destinations will only partially offset the disruption, as few markets can absorb such quantities at similar price levels.
As a result, we expect an immediate drop in sales and order cancellations, leading to a sharp erosion of margins. Increased domestic supply will create downward pressure on prices, ultimately affecting European farmers most severely.
This situation compounds existing challenges faced by the pig production chain, including recent animal disease outbreaks and other trade restrictions imposed on several Member States. The new measures risk further destabilising a sector already under strain.
At UECBV we are working closely with our members and the European Commission to assess the impact, explore mitigation strategies, and strengthen the resilience of the EU pig sector. Our priority is to support producers, processors and traders across the Union in navigating this challenging period, while we also hope that constructive dialogue between the EU and China can help ease current tensions and restore balanced trade relations.
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