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In December 2015 swine inventories are expected to reach 11.5 million head, 2 percent up compared to December 2014 but the pace of increase will depend on grain crop and feed prices in the second half of 2015. In March 2015 sow inventories were 3 percent lower than a year ago, which indicates that the pace of swine inventories increase will be slower in the second half of the year and will slow down even further in 2016. The drop of feed prices had a primary influence on the increase of swine inventories in the second half of 2014 and first half of 2015. However the inefficient structure of the industry as well as continuing strong competition from Danish and German suppliers of pork and piglets inhibits faster recovery of the Polish swine industry. It is estimated that in 2016 swine inventories will continue to increase, however the rate of increase will depend on feed prices and the recovery of farm - gate prices for swine.
Production of pork in 2015 is expected to increase by 3 percent as a result of higher swine inventories and growing imports of piglets from Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.
Slaughter of hogs in 2016 is forecast to remain almost flat in comparison to 2015 because higher imports of piglets will be accompanied by expected reduction of domes tic production.
Wednesday September 2, 2015/ FAS-USDA/ United States.
http://gain.fas.usda.gov
