German piglet imports are on the rise again - highly attractive piglet prices in Germany From 2005 to 2011 the German ferry imports from Denmark and Holland doubled . After this, a 4-year stagnation phase with approximately constant imports amounted to 10.5 million pieces per year. By the beginning of the year 2016 the piglet imports will rise again . For the current year 2017 , an annual quantity of 11.5 million animals can be calculated from the previous monthly deliveries.In the first half of 2017, Holland's piglet producers exported 3.28 million rd.1% more piglets abroad. 2.25 million animals went to Germany . 156,000 animals were sent to Spain ; which is an increase compared to the previous year by almost 40%. High Spanish pig and piglet prices were the causes. In the previous years, Spanish exports were running at considerably lower levels.In the post-holiday phase, the Spanish piglet needs to go back again. In the first half of 2017, the Dutch deliveries to Poland were reduced from 173,000 to 60,000 piglets. The main reason for this is the strong competition from Denmark , which is increasingly gaining ground in the Polish piglet market. The exports of Holland to Hungary in the order of 116,000 animals were also increased by approx. 26%. Wide transport routes and unattractive Hungarian piglet prices were the driving forces. The reduction in shipments to the aforementioned areas and the overall increase in Dutch exports benefited the German import figures .Denmark's ferry exports are expected to grow by another million to 13.7 million in 2017. Admittedly, Germany's share of this figure is approx. 50% still have the largest share, but the increasing quantities go primarily towards Poland. The large Polish piglet deficit after the slump in sows by 50% since EU accession opens the Danish exporters with increasing export volumes. Danish investments in newly built Polish stables reinforce a lasting supply relationship. For the foreseeable future, Denmark is likely to see further export growth. Where the deliveries go depends essentially on the regional piglet price levels and the respective transport costs. In contrast, the Dutch production capacities seem to be largely exhausted.
