Following an exploratory mission to India in December, the UK is aiming to exploit the potential for livestock genetics, for which there is a clear demand. A follow up visit is planned this month; Canada and US competitors have also shown a strong interest, according to BPEX's Export Bulletin for week 6 of 2013.

French processing company Aoste is about to close down its site located in central France due to difficulties in passing on price increases to the retail sector.

Meanwhile, Denmark plans on increasing exports of piglets. Danish piglet exports have risen 40 per cent compared to those of Holland. While Dutch exports remained unchanged, Danish piglet exports increased by approximately 15 per cent during 2012.

Tönnies’, Europe's largest pork producer, slaughtered 1.5 million boars during 2012. The company now slaughters 150,000 pigs per week in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, 70,000 per week in Sögel, 80,000 in Weissenfels and 24,000 in Brørup (Denmark). This amounts a total of 16m pigs per year.

In Italy, slaughterhouses are running at a loss. They are caught between strong demand and limited supplies and are hit by current high pig prices.

Thai company Betagro recently opened it ninth feedmill in Lopburi province, with an investment of £22 million. The factory is to produce 36,000 tonnes of additive-free feed per month for pork, poultry and cattle. This is the second additive-free feedmill for the company. It is also coming up with a petfood and fish meal plant worth &pound.30 million.

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