Live pig imports to Germany declined slightly overall in the first half of 2026, according to ISN. While piglet imports almost reached the previous year’s level, slaughter pig imports showed a significant decrease.
From January to June 2026, a total of approximately 5,220,000 live pigs were imported into Germany, representing a decrease of 2.0% compared to the same period of the previous year. While imports of piglets were only slightly below the previous year’s level, imports of slaughter pigs showed a significant decline. This continues the long-term trend of decreasing deliveries of live pigs for slaughter in Germany.
Slaughter pig imports significantly declining
In the first half of 2026, a total of approximately 4,870,000 piglets were imported into Germany, representing a slight decrease of 1.0% compared to the same period of the previous year. However, the decline in slaughter pigs was considerably more pronounced during the same period: imports fell noticeably by 13.9% to 350,000 animals in the first half of the year.
This decline in slaughter pigs is primarily due to reduced deliveries from the Netherlands and Belgium. The Netherlands, by far the largest supplier to the German market, delivered approximately 260,000 slaughter pigs, 9.8% fewer than in the first half of the previous year. Deliveries from Belgium also shrank significantly, by 27.1%, to around 50,000 animals. Fewer slaughter-ready pigs were also imported from Denmark and France compared to the previous year.
In contrast, piglet imports showed a very differentiated development in the first six months of 2026, depending on the country of origin. Denmark further consolidated its already leading position as the main supplier for German fattening farms, increasing deliveries slightly by 0.3% to around 3,700,000 piglets. Imports from the Netherlands, on the other hand, recorded a noticeable decline of 6.6% to around 1,130,000 piglets during the same period.
This import trend was accompanied by changes in export flows. The export picture was mixed: while German piglet exports plummeted by 22.4% to 400,000 animals in the first half of the year, exports of slaughter pigs from Germany to neighboring countries rose slightly by 1.9% to 370,000 animals.
