EU Pork Exports in 2024: Stability After the Decline

The total EU exports of pork and pork-based products to third countries ended 2024 at 4.21 million tonnes, almost the same as in 2023 (4.20 million t), but well below the historical record achieved in 2020, when 6.36 million tonnes were exported. During the 2001-2020 period, the sector's external trade showed an upward trend, with an increase of almost 300% in two decades, driven by Asian demand (especially from China) and the competitiveness of European products. The most notable leap occurred between 2016 and 2020, during the African Swine Fever crisis in Asia, which made the EU a fundamental global supplier. Since 2021, however, exports have entered a sustained decline phase, accumulating a 33% drop in just four years. This contraction is due, in part, to China's production recovery and a more uncertain international context. In 2024, Spain continued to be the largest exporter of pork and pork-based products in the European Union, with over 1.34 million tonnes exported to third ...