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Pig slaughterings in Portugal in 2020 decreased 2.6% (-9161 heads) compared to 2019, going from 4.18 million pigs slaughtered in 2019 to 4.08 million - according to data published by GPP, provided by INE as preliminary data. This is a continuing trend as there were 30,000 fewer head slaughtered in 2019 than in 2018.
Slaughter in terms of weight is also down 2.6% going from 351,655 tons in 2019 to 342,494 tons in 2020. This means that the average slaughter weight in 2020 was identical to that of 2019.
With regard to piglets, there was a strong and significant reduction in their slaughtering (-12.5%) in 2020 when compared with 2019, since the number of heads slaughtered was 1.17 million compared with 1.34 million heads in the previous year. This reduction in slaughtering is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as compulsory confinements, restaurant closures, and bans on holding parties, weddings, and baptisms had a strong influence on this reduction in demand. Weight slaughtered was down 10.2% going from 9,224 tons in 2019 to 8,288 tons in 2020, meaning piglets were slaughtered at a higher average weight than in 2019.
A total of 5.3 million head were slaughtered and approved for consumption in 2020, -4.6% than in 2019 where 5.56 million head were slaughtered. The total slaughter weight was 357,814 tons, which is -2.2% than in 2019 where 365,961 tons were approved for consumption.
February 15, 2021, Newsletter SIMA, GPP/ Portugal.
www.gpp.pt
