Germany: analysis and market forecast of pork production

Pig populations in Germany have stabilized since 2023. The sharp decline between 2020 and 2023 was partly due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the consequent reduction in out-of-home consumption, and the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), with the consequent closure of many export markets. Since 2015, the number of fattening pigs has decreased by 23% and the number of breeding sows by 31%. The decline was slightly more pronounced in the eastern federal states than in the western ones. The reduction in the number of pig farms is much more pronounced, which means that the growth in farm size continues. Since 2023, both the slaughter and the gross production have stabilized. The drop in imports of live pigs is mainly due to the reduction in imports of pigs for slaughter, as a result of the shortage of animals for slaughter across the European Union. The production of animals has increased considerably, while the population of breeding sows has stagnated. Although a slight ...