Belgium: Sharp decrease in pig slaughter
In December there was a sharp decrease in the number of pigs slaughtered with pig inventory decreasing less rapidly.
In December 2022, 867,578 pigs were slaughtered in Belgium, 13% less than in December 2021, according to data from the Belgian statistics agency Statbel. The decrease in the pig herd is estimated at 4.9% for 2022 going from 6,145,696 pigs in 2021 to 5,846,586 pigs in 2022. The majority of Belgian pigs are kept in Flanders (94%).
Experts see the declining figures as evidence of the poor market conditions and poor prospects for the future in the sector. The crisis in pig farming has been going on for almost two years now. The lack of exports to Asia, among others, as a result of swine fever in the EU, has led to a large surplus on the European market and ailing figures as a result.