European Union: Livestock and Products Annual

Both EU beef and pork production are trending down to record lows in 2023 and 2024. Livestock farmers are confronted with high input prices and a complexity of regulations, which combined are pressing profit margins and creating investment uncertainty by the farmers. In contrast to the beef sector in western Europe, the sector in central Europe is structurally subsidized by which the cattle herd is anticipated to slightly expand in some Member States. The market dynamics in the EU swine sector show a strong cycle with current record prices for piglets and hogs. The improved profitability is expected to support a temporary rebound of slaughter during the second half of this year. With the absence of a full recovery of pork sales to China, the sector is attempting to diversify exports and resetting its focus on the domestic market. However, both beef and pork producers face dwindling demand by EU consumers who show a preference for poultry meat.