Difficult start to 2026 for the pig market

The pig price is far from stable after Christmas. The carcass price has dropped significantly, as in other years. One difference is that the prices this year continued to decline sharply even in the run-up to the holidays. The tension is particularly palpable in Northern Europe. The prices of pig parts have fallen significantly at the beginning of the new year. The average carcass price decreased by no less than 6.75 cents. This decline is stronger than the increase before the Christmas holidays of 2.24 cents. Prices have fallen across the board. Particularly notable is the sharp drop of 19 cents for the necks, as well as the decline of the pig loins. The long loin dropped in price by €1.33 per kilo, and the shoulder loin became 53 cents cheaper. A significant drop in the new year is not unusual. After the holidays, the demand for pork generally decreases, putting pressure on meat prices. It is not uncommon for the average carcass price to fall more sharply in the new year than it rises around Christmas. A similar dynamic was also visible in 2024 and 2025. An important reason for this is that the pork market during the Christmas period relies heavily on very large increases in niche parts, such as pig loins. The prices of such products immediately make a substantial backward step in the new year, and moreover, the prices of basic products decline relatively much more sharply in the new year. Furthermore, consumption patterns are not favorable for the pork market. Consumers generally prefer poultry meat at the beginning of the year. Since people pay a bit less attention to their eating habits during the holidays, consumers often focus again on healthy eating patterns in the new year. Additionally, the association of pork with fat does not help, while the positive associations with chicken meat give that market a boost. Prices already at a low pointHowever, one difference from other years is that prices in the European Union were already at a low point. Data from Eurostat shows that the price of pork across the European Union has been consistently under pressure for half a year. During that period, the price has dropped by 27.1%, from €214.58 per 100 kilos to €214.58 per 100 kilos. Despite the low quotes, pressure in Northern Europe does not seem to have completely left the market yet. Particularly in Germany, there is a surplus of pigs, leading to expectations that prices in the country will soon decline. Insiders even talk about a pig bottleneck in that market. Meanwhile, the supply in the Netherlands is reportedly still reasonably in order, traders say. These factors together result in a reduction of the expected price from DCA (the DCA Market Price) by 4 cents per kilo. Thus, even though the pig market takes a clear step back, it is clear that slaughterhouses are facing a slight decline in their margins. In Denmark, the pig price is also under pressure. Danish Crown has reduced prices by no less than 6 cents to €1.25 per kilo. In Spain, where the decline began to accelerate significantly after the pig epidemic, the price remains at a level of €1.04 per kilo. This keeps the level well below prices in the European market.