EU slaughter data show that in the first four months of 2026, EU production increased, both in volume (+2.2%) and in heads (+1.7%), compared to the same period in 2025. The highest increases were in Greece, Slovakia and Croatia, while high reductions were recorded in Latvia, Estonia and the Netherlands. A production increase was observed in a majority of EU MS, including most of the largest producers: ES, FR, PL, DK. The production decrease in NL continues. EU production in January-April 2026 amounted to 7.6 M tonnes (77.4 M heads). Spain accounted for approximately a quarter of EU production (25.2%) and was the largest producer, followed by Germany (19.2%), France (9.5%) and Poland (9%).
Overall, in January-March 2026, EU pigmeat exports amounted to 1.15M tonnes. The export value was €2.8 billion. Exports increased in volume compared to January-March 2025 by 1.2% and decreased in value by 12.1%. Exports increased to South Korea, Vietnam, Ivory Coast, and Australia. They decreased to China, the UK, the Philippines, Japan, and the USA, with the reduction in exports to China being the largest in absolute terms. China remains the EU's leading importer of pigmeat, constituting 21.0% of the EU’s total export volume. The UK ranked as the second-largest market, with a share of 17.8% of EU pigmeat exports. In value, the UK represents 26.8% of EU exports (€753M), which is a decrease of 10.9% compared to January-March last year; it’s followed by China at 13.8% of the export value (€387 M) which decreased by 33.9%. The main exporting MS were (in order of export volumes): ES (29% of EU exports), DK, NL, DE, FR; together more than 75% of EU exports. By product category, the exports of meats in January-March 2026 were higher than in 2025; KR was the most important importer of frozen meat from the EU. Export volumes of lard, fats, and offal decreased, especially to CN and the Philippines, while they increased to Vietnam and Ivory Coast. Exports of live animals went up.
Overall, imports into the EU in January-March 2026 were 43k tonnes, with a value of €88.0 M. Compared to January-March 2025, the import volume increased by 8.5% and total value increased by 1.3%. British exports to the EU represent 63% of EU MS’s imports and were stable (+0.1%). Imports from Switzerland constitute a share of 9.0% and decreased by 5.8%; those from Chile decreased by 35% to a market share of 4.0%. The UK mainly exports meat to the EU. EU imports from Switzerland are predominantly pig fat and offal, while imports from Chile consist of frozen meat.
July 17, 2026/ EU Agriculture and Rural Development/ European Union.
https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu
