According to the European Commission short-term outlook report for agricultural markets, pigmeat production decreased in the majority of EU member states by 5.6% on average in 2022. Important producers such as Germany, Poland, Denmark, Spain, Belgium and Italy recorded high decreases.

According to the December 2022 livestock survey, the number of breeding sows decreased by half a million heads in 2022 (-4.6%), following a decline of 370 000 heads in 2021 (-3.6%). The current stock of fattening pigs is also very low in all categories.

In 2023, the situation of ASF is assumed not to change dramatically and this will continue to trigger strong responses in affected countries and among trade partners.

As feed prices are slowly going down, the main pressure on margins is expected to cool down. This might result as well in slightly higher carcass weights. Overall, EU pigmeat production is expected to decrease further by another 5% in 2023.