Ferry exports from Denmark and Holland - have we reached the end of the line?
In 2012, Denmark exported a total of 9.3 million piglets with a live weight of up to 50 kg, including piglets weighing up to 15 kg in the order of 450,000. Over the last 10 years, Danish farrowing exports have increased by an average of 0.8 million piglets per year. The growth rates have decreased significantly over time compared to the early years.
In the most recent period from January to May 2013, exports fell for the first time by around 1.5% or just under 40,000 animals compared to the same period in the previous year. While around 840,000 piglets were delivered in January 2013, there were between 70,000 and 100,000 fewer animals in the following individual months. In May 2013, exports only amounted to 740,000 Danish piglets.
Initially, over 90% of the exported animals were delivered to Germany. However, the German import share is now only 68%. Other deficit countries have increasingly taken in Danish piglets. Central and Eastern European countries with greatly reduced sow herds, above all Poland, have played a major role in this.
Dutch piglet exports have been stagnating for three years at around 6.3 million head. However, the proportion of exports to Germany has continued to rise. Germany imported just over 4 million Dutch piglets in 2012.
In the first 24 weeks of 2013, the number of Dutch piglet exports to Germany was 80,000 piglets lower than in the same period of the previous year. However, the total number of Dutch exports rose by around 37,000 animals, with Polish imports increasing significantly.
The times of abundant piglet availability in Europe are clearly coming to an end. Piglets are scarce and expensive. This means that future slaughter figures will also fall significantly. A year-on-year decline of 3.3% is expected for the third quarter of 2013.
