EU-28: Livestock and Products Annual
The dry summer months and limited feed supplies are anticipated to accelerate the slaughter of cattle and hogs this year. As a result, more animals will be slaughtered than earlier forecast, but at a lower weight. In 2018, both beef and pork production are projected to increase. As domestic demand is stagnant, the additional volumes will either be stored or exported. The final volume of pork produced and shipped will largely depend on the demand from China. Deteriorating margins will press pork production, but sufficient competitive and exportable volumes will still be available for reaching a new export record next year. Only limited export growth is expected to other markets than China.
