Vous êtes déjà membre ? Connectez-vous! Sinon abonnez-vous pour voir le contenu.
Point of view: Spain boosts imports of live pigs
During the first quarter of 2025, the European live pig trade was characterised by an ongoing increase in Spanish imports, fuelled by demand for piglets and slaughtered pigs. This has disrupted traditional trade flows between the main producer countries. In response to market developments, France, Denmark and the Netherlands are adjusting their exports.
Sharp rise in Spanish imports of piglets and pigs for slaughter
Spain significantly increased its imports of live animals in the first quarter of 2025. The European leader is turning to live animal imports more frequently due to persistent health problems (PRRS) and overcapacity in its slaughtering and cutting facilities. Furthermore, high prices on the Spanish market are encouraging increased flows of live pigs to southern Europe. Imports of piglets increased by 76% year-on-year in the first quarter, reaching 1.1 million. Purchases of slaughter and cull pigs also increased by 43%, totalling 62,900.
Monthly Spanish imports of live pigs (thousands of head)
Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal and France: Spain’s main suppliers
The Netherlands remains the main supplier of piglets to Spain, exporting 835,000 over the quarter (an increase of 81% year-on-year). In terms of slaughter pigs, Belgium exported 66,400 (+707%) and France 25,500 (+711%). For economic and structural reasons, Portugal regularly exports live pigs to Spain. Shipments increased at the start of the year, rising by 112% to 62,800 pigs.
French exports: sharp rise
but limited weight in national supply
In France, exports of slaughter pigs increased by 41.5% in the first three months of 2025, reaching 89,500. Despite this increase, exports remain marginal. Each month, exports of slaughtered pigs represent less than 2% of national slaughterings. In March, for instance, 30,500 pigs were exported to the EU. The main destinations were Belgium (+2.7%) and Spain (+711%). French exports of piglets were minimal (2,200 in the first quarter).
Main export destinations from France for slaughter and cull pigs (thousands of head)
| cumul. 3 months 24 | cumul. 3 months 25 | % evol. 3 months 25/24 | march-25 | % March/Feb 25 | % March/Feb 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total slaughter pigs | 63,2 | 89,5 | +41,5% | 30,5 | +10,2% | +41,9% |
| Belgium | 40,0 | 41,1 | +2,7% | 11,9 | -16,3% | -14,5% |
| Spain | 3,2 | 25,5 | +711,0% | 11,2 | +77,0% | +912,0% |
| Luxembourg | 3,5 | 10,3 | +195,3% | 3,5 | +18,2% | +203,3% |
Disruption to North European flows
as a result of health issues
In recent years, the restructuring of the pig industry in northern Europe has led to a reorganisation of live animal flows. By 2020, demand in Germany had fallen drastically, requiring live pigs from Denmark and the Netherlands to be transferred to other outlets. The German market has been in the process of rebalancing since 2024, but the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany at the beginning of January temporarily disrupted live pig trade in the region. During the first quarter, German pig imports fell again (-1.6%), particularly between January and February — a period during which zoning and restrictions on the transport of live animals were imposed.
In the Netherlands, the domestic market has experienced a
Auteur
Ingénieure d’études - Experte en charge de l’analyse des marchés du porc et du commerce international
