European pork market weighed down by oversupply and weak demand

European piglet and pork prices moved lower again this week, reflecting the increasing pressure in market conditions across the region. The DCA EU-5 Piglet Price Index fell further to €59.26 per head, continuing its downward trend.In Spain, piglet prices dropped sharply in week 20 to €46 per 20kg piglet, while Danish quotations declined to €56.48 per 25kg piglet. In the Netherlands, the DCA BestPigletPrice have also already moved below the €50 level in week 20, reaching €49.50 per piglet. Pressure on the piglet market is mainly linked to weaker confidence among finishing pig farmers. The sharp correction in pig prices, including the recent €0.10 decline in Germany, has made producers more cautious about placing new batches. At the same time, piglet supply remains high, creating growing backlogs, while broken slaughter weeks linked to Ascension Day and Whit Monday add further pressure.The pork market also continues to face downward pressure. The DCA Pork Price Index declined again to €1.39 per kilo in week 20, while the DCA EU-6 Pork Price Index is expected to trend lower in the upcoming weeks as recent national price corrections start to be reflected in the index. German VEZG pig prices remained stable at €1.60 per kilo in week 21 following last week’s sharp correction. Poland also recorded a further €0.05 decline this week, bringing prices down to €1.68 per kilo. Weak meat demand and increasing pork availability continue to weigh on the European market. Slaughter numbers increased strongly in Spain and Denmark during the first quarter of 2026, adding more meat to an already well-supplied market. At the same time, intra-European pork trade remains weaker than last year, increasing competition and limiting opportunities for price recovery.