German pig farmers lose about 55 euros per pig

As pig prices in Germany fall significantly below production costs, management pressure on pig farms is increasing.
As of October 1, the German VEZG benchmark price for pigs remains at 1.45 euros per kg of carcass. The German pig producers' association ISN analyzed that more than 2 euros per kg is currently required to cover the total production costs of piglet production and fattening. Consequently, the loss borne by farmers is estimated to amount to approximately 55 euros per pig.
Given that approximately 900,000 pigs are slaughtered weekly in Germany, the total loss for the pork industry amounts to about 50 million euros per week. The market is under pressure due to limited sales opportunities relative to the increase in autumn shipments, coupled with consumers' preference for low-priced and discounted products and sluggish demand for dining out. The oversupply of pork in the EU, weak demand from China, and export competition with pork from the U.S. and Brazil are also cited as factors hindering price recovery. As the weakness in German pork prices persists, it could impact the supply and demand of European pork and export prices, drawing attention to future price trends.