Pig slaughters in the Netherlands at lowest level since 2009 following sector contraction

Dutch slaughterhouses processed the lowest number of pigs in the first quarter of 2026 since 2009. The decline is linked to buyout schemes in pig farming, which have significantly reduced the size of the sector in recent years.

Analysis by DCA Market Intelligence, based on data from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO, shows that a total of 3,733,125 pigs were slaughtered up to and including week 14. This is around 300,000 fewer animals than in the same period last year, a decrease of 7.4%. The drop follows the Dutch livestock farm termination scheme, under which participating farms were required to cease operations by the end of 2025.

Although the largest effects of these schemes now appear to have passed, their impact remains visible in slaughter figures in the first half of 2026. The number of pigs in the Netherlands fell below 10 million in 2025, the lowest level in approximately 45 years.

Decline in a multi-year perspective
The decrease is part of a broader downward trend that has been evident since 2022. In the first quarter of peak year 2021, more than 4.5 million pigs were slaughtered. This means current levels are about 780,000 animals lower, a decline of over 17% in five years. However, pigs have been slaughtered at higher average weights in recent years, meaning total pork production has fallen less sharply.

To offset declining domestic supply, Dutch slaughterhouses have in recent years sourced more pigs from export flows, particularly animals that previously went to foreign slaughterhouses, such as in Germany. This buffer has now largely disappeared. Whereas around 930,000 slaughter pigs were exported in the first quarter of 2016, this volume has dropped to approximately 100,000 animals in 2026.

Capacity utilisation under pressure
Processing capacity at Dutch slaughterhouses exceeds 300,000 pigs per week. In the tightest weeks of the first quarter, available supply—including redirected export flows—amounted to around 270,000 animals. With seasonally lower supply expected during the summer months, capacity utilisation is likely to remain below full levels in the coming period.

Tighter supply does not guarantee higher prices
Whether tighter supply will lead to higher pig prices remains uncertain. Dutch slaughterhouses operate in a highly export-oriented market and depend on sales within Europe, where pork availability is currently ample. This is partly due to higher pig numbers in countries such as Spain, Germany and Denmark.

According to Wageningen University & Research, the self-sufficiency rate of the Dutch pork supply chain remains around 300%. This creates a tension in the market: slaughterhouses need sufficient supply to utilise capacity, but remain cautious about raising purchase prices due to limited value realisation in export markets.