Year to date (January – July) EU pig meat production is now just 1 per cent lower than year earlier levels at 13.4 million tonnes.

Pig supplies were relatively unchanged on year earlier levels in July, with slaughterings for the month at just under 20 million head.

However, year to date figures remain 2 per cent down year on year. As slaughterings and production remained unchanged on the year in July, average carcase weights appear to have remained stable.

Carcase weights had been heavier so far this year than in 2016, partially offsetting the limited throughputs earlier in the year.

However, following 20 weeks of consecutive gains, the EU reference pig price started to fall in the week ending 9 July, suggesting that the supply and demand balance had started to turn.

The majority of the key producing member states recorded year on year increases in production in July.

The EU’s largest pig meat producer, Germany, recorded a 2 per cent uptick in production to 441 thousand tonnes. Despite the rise, year to date production in Germany remains 2 per cent below year earlier levels.

Spain, the bloc’s second largest producer, reported a 5 per cent annual rise in output in July at 307 thousand head, taking year to date production to 2 per cent above year earlier levels.

Conversely, Danish output during the month of July was 13 per cent lower than year earlier levels at 119 thousand head, with year to date output now 1 per cent lower than the same period in 2016.