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According to "Prospects for Agricultural Markets and Income in the EU 2013-2023", the pig herd has been decreasing since 2006 and stood at 147 million heads in 2012 (a reduction of 16 million heads or 10%, in seven years), while breeding sow numbers fell even more steeply, by 19% (3 million heads).
The downward trend is explained by:
- restructuring process in some of the most important producers;
- increased productivity;
- higher feed costs;
- lower profitability in the sector; and
- (more recently) the need to adapt to new welfare rules.
In spite of the decline in herd, carcass weight gains implied that meat production increased slightly in the period to 2011. However, the new welfare rules in place accelerated the decline in animal numbers (as reflected in the December 2011 and 2012 surveys) and inevitably led to shorter supply on the European market in 2012 and 2013 (by -2% and -1.2%, respectively).
Despite this, exports performed relatively well in 2012 and 2013, with higher volumes (around 2.2 million tonnes) shipped to Asia and the Far East countries in particular; Russia remained the top destination (more than 600 000 tonnes per year), with second place going to Japan (over 250 000 tonnes per year).
Supply shortages and high prices put pressure on consumption, which fell by 2.3% in 2012 and 1.1% in 2013. Per capita consumption fell significantly, from 32.1 kg (retail weight) in 2011 to 30.8 kg in 2013.
Tuesday January 14, 2014/ European Commission - Agriculture and Rural Development/ European Union. http://ec.europa.eu
