EU pork production forecast to further rise this year, beef herd and consumption set to contract

Despite the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and the further spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in wild boar westwards into Germany, EU pork production and exports broke a record in 2020, finds a USDA report. The EU swine sector started 2020 with a larger sow herd than the previous year, anticipating strong export demand - in particular, from China, they said. But a series of challenging developments had to be overcome. “For example, in Northwestern Europe, the sector experienced slaughter restrictions due to COVID-19 outbreaks. However, the surplus of slaughter capacity and the close proximity of the plants helped the sector overcome the disruptions and accelerate slaughter during the last quarter of the calendar year. ​ "The detection of ASF in wild boar in Germany closed off German exports from the world market. The Netherlands and, in particular, Spain were able to take over the German exports to China and relieve the EU market from an oversupply.”​ With the continuous ...