Dutch meat exports decline by 3% in 2024

The export value of Dutch meat is expected to reach €10.7 billion in 2024, a decrease of 3% compared to the previous year. Import value is also down by 3.4%, amounting to €5.1 billion. Exports to Germany show a modest increase of 3%, while exports to the United Kingdom and France have declined by 9%. Germany remains the largest importer of Dutch meat, with a value of €1.2 billion, followed by Belgium and Poland.

Pork under pressure

The drop in export value is mainly due to pork, with exports falling by 12.5% to €2.5 billion. The import value of pork declined even further, by 13.4%. Although pork prices in 2024 remained high, they were below the record levels of 2023. For Dutch pig farmers, 2024 was a year of stabilization, but profit margins stayed tight due to increasing competition from other European countries.

Market developments in meat production

Meat production within the EU-27 and the United Kingdom grew by 3% in the first seven months of 2024, partly due to an increase in slaughter weight. At the same time, the Dutch sow herd shrank by 6%, indicating a potential further decline in production. The introduction of anti-dumping measures against Chinese imports led to additional demand, boosting the European market share.

Despite these challenges, the Netherlands remains a key player in the international meat trade, holding strong positions in beef and veal production while paying increasing attention to sustainability within the poultry sector.

More statistics can be found in the report ‘De Nederlandse agrarische sector in internationaal verband – editie 2025.’