Articles - Economy

In the first quarter of 2025, European pig trade continued to be marked by an increase in Spanish imports of piglets and finishing pigs.

Communication in the swine industry today faces a double challenge. On the one hand, there is a real need to transparently show the sector's work to an increasingly distrustful consumer, who is either uninformed or saturated with emotional messages. On the other hand, we must do so in a changing digital environment, which rewards the authentic, the emotional, and the useful.

Spanish slaughterhouses are between a rock and a hard place. The heat will accentuate the supply shortage. Pig prices are increasing or staying the same, pork prices are decreasing, and consequently, margins are deteriorating.

Price expectations vary by continent.

On December 6, 2024, the final trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur was signed. This agreement is considered historic due to its magnitude, creating a goods and services market of approximately 800 million consumers and representing a quarter of the global GDP.

In this commentary, we review various issues affecting the swine market: the blackout in Spain, corporate concentration, the evolution of carcass weights, Trump's policy....

In 2024, the Latin American swine industry continued to show outstanding performance, reaffirming its potential, resilience, and capacity to adapt to the challenges facing the sector in a complex market environment. However, given the current geopolitical circumstances, reconfiguration of international pork trade flows in Latin America is expected in 2025 as a result of retaliation against the tariffs imposed by the United States.

The past five years have been a turbulent period for the UK pork industry, shaped by the intersecting challenges of Brexit, COVID-19 and global economic and geopolitical pressures.

Customs tariffs have major consequences and affect pig farms worldwide.

Guillem Burset analyzes the situation in the Spanish market and the possible effects of Trump's tariff policy on pork trade.

The pig price in Spain is well above the rest of the European countries. The reality is that this price is only possible at the expense of negative margins in the slaughterhouses.

The pig industry in Africa holds great potential as a key driver for food security, income generation, and rural development. However, it faces several challenges that hinder its growth and sustainability.

In 11 of the 15 countries analyzed, 333 users expected higher prices than were actually achieved.

At the risk of being proven wrong by the end of 2025, we will try to break down what we think this year has in store. It's not about using a crystal ball, but rather analyzing the data we already have and weighing its importance. At the end of the year, you can compare and see whether we got it right or missed the mark.

The appearance of a case of foot and mouth disease aggravated the fall in the German pig price with direct repercussions on prices in neighboring countries.

The price of pork has remained well above the cost price throughout the year, with declines from the peak (1.848 euros per kilo in July) being gradual and controlled, allowing slaughterhouses to navigate the autumn with favourable positive margins.

The price is not expected to change in the coming weeks, provided nothing extraordinary happens.

Our experts Sara Mazo and Francisco Ruíz review the economic policies implemented during Trump's first term: protectionism, tariffs, and deregulation of the energy and agricultural sectors.

September is ending, leaving behind a trail of staggered decreases in the pig price in Spain. This is nothing new; many years tend to be like this.

On December 30, 2024, soybeans will be added to the products covered by the new European regulation against deforestation, creating uncertainty in commodity trade.

We have embarked on the path of decreases in the price of pigs. The drop in the price of pork is causing and will cause this sharp decline.

Antonio Palomo summarizes the presentations from the latest AASV, ranging from the future of the veterinary profession to the eradication of diseases, hog prices, and experiences in improving pig survival.

Consumption is falling except in Germany and Italy. This trend is explained by food insecurity and ready-to-eat products.

The Spanish pig price has remained unchanged for weeks, but the apparent tranquility of the market is only superficial...