Pork prices fell in 2025, but less than in 2024

Pork prices fell sharply in 2025, according to DCA Market Intelligence's Pork Cut Benchmark. However, the decline was less severe than in the previous year. This is remarkable given that slaughter pig prices dropped much more sharply.The pig carcass price fell by 8.12 cents in 2025, according to the DCA Pork cut benchmark. This means the overall decline was noticeably milder than in 2024, when the carcass price decreased by an average of 13.75 cents.In the second half of 2025, pig prices in Europe came under heavy pressure, causing slaughter pig prices to fall sharply. Three clear factors can be identified. First, strong supply in the German, British and Danish markets pushed prices down across Northern Europe. Second, substantial import tariffs imposed by China on several European slaughterhouses (including Dutch facilities) added further pressure. Third and finally, the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in December triggered the last significant price decline.In the second half of the year, the carcass price fell by 27.75 cents. Nevertheless, this decline was clearly less pronounced than that of slaughter pig prices, which fell by an average of €1 over the same period, from €2.14 per kilogram to €1.14 per kilogram. Part of this decline materialised later. In the first three weeks of 2026, the carcass price dropped by a further 14.42 cents per kilogram. Although a decline during this period is fairly typical, the price decrease was clearly stronger than would be expected on the basis of seasonality alone. By comparison, prices fell by just 8.29 cents during the same weeks a year earlier.Shoulder and neck cuts decline exceptionally sharplyThe most notable negative outlier in 2025 was the collar, which fell by no less than 43 cents—by far the largest decline among all pork primals. In 2024, this cut had already fallen sharply by 27 cents, but that decline was relatively smaller in proportion to the overall carcass price drop. Prices for this cut fell particularly hard in September, when they dropped by 42 cents in just three weeks.A strong decline was also observed in ribs, which fell by 27 cents over the course of 2025. In addition, there were substantial declines in bellies (-17 cents), loins (-15 cents) and hams (-12 cents). Lean trimmings also declined significantly, falling by 11 cents.Relative to their absolute price levels, declines in tenderloin values were comparatively limited. The long tenderloin fell by 16 cents, while the loin eye head tenderloin declined by 14 cents. In the previous year, these prices had dropped far more sharply, by €2.07 and 73 cents respectively. Remarkably, given the sharp fall in the carcass price, three components actually increased in value. Backfat recorded the strongest increase, rising by 27 cents. Pork cheeks increased by 18 cents, while liver rose by 22 cents.