EU pig population and production forecasts 2002/2003

By Eurostat - Francis Weiler, Robert Poschacher and Blanka Chropúvková - According to the market forecasts presented by the Member States and Eurostat, pig production will be slightly lower in 2003 than in 2002 (- 0.4%), standing at 201.7 million animals.

9 June 2003

2 minute read

The pig population of the European Union stood at 121.7 million in December 2002, which was 0.4% smaller than a year earlier. Pig production in 2002 was 202.5 million animals, which represents an increase of 1.3% compared with 2001.

EU pig population on the decline

Following a minor increase (0.3%) in the pig population in December 2001 compared with 2000, the pig population surveys carried out in December 2002 show a decline of 0.4% compared with 2001, leaving the EU's pig population at 121.7 million.

The biggest decline was recorded in the United Kingdom (-6.3%), while the pig population in Italy rose by 9.0% (1) compared with 2001.

Decrease in pig production

As Diagram 1 shows, pig production in the EU was on a gradual upward trend between the first and fourth quarters of 2002. Production rose by 1.3% between 2001 and 2002, to reach 202.5 million animals, and a slight decrease (-0.4%) is expected for 2003.

In six Member States (Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom), however, pig production in 2002 was down compared with 2001. Luxembourg recorded a particularly steep decline of 10.3%.