Number of pig slaughters drops to lowest level since 2009

Pig slaughter volumes in the Netherlands declined further in the first quarter of 2026. Slaughterhouses processed the lowest number of animals in over fifteen years. The contraction in pig farming is therefore directly impacting the supply chain.

Lower supply due to termination scheme

Up to and including week 14, a total of 3,733,125 pigs were slaughtered. This is based on RVO figures, analyzed by DCA Market Intelligence. That is approximately 300,000 fewer animals than a year earlier, a decline of 7.4%. The decrease follows the National Termination Scheme for Livestock Locations (Lbv). Companies that participated were required to empty their barns by the end of 2025 at the latest.

Although the largest impact has now been absorbed, the effects remain visible. The number of pigs in the Netherlands fell below 10 million in 2025. That marks the lowest level in roughly 45 years.

Structural decline since 2021

The current figures fit into a broader trend that has been visible since 2022. In the first quarter of 2021, more than 4.5 million pigs were still slaughtered. The current level is therefore approximately 780,000 animals lower. This represents a decline of over 17% in five years. Pigs are, however, slaughtered at higher average weights. As a result, the drop in total meat production is less pronounced.

In recent years, slaughterhouses have sourced more animals from export flows. These were mainly pigs that previously went to foreign slaughterhouses, such as in Germany. That room has now largely disappeared. Exports declined from approximately 930,000 slaughter pigs in 2016 to about 100,000 in 2026.

Capacity utilization and prices under pressure

The processing capacity of Dutch slaughterhouses stands at over 300,000 pigs per week. In the tightest weeks of the first quarter, supply reached around 270,000 animals, including imports. With lower seasonal supply expected in summer, full utilization of capacity appears unlikely.

Whether the tighter supply will lead to higher prices remains uncertain. Slaughterhouses operate in an export-oriented market and depend on sales within Europe. Supply there is currently ample, partly due to higher livestock numbers in countries such as Spain, Germany, and Denmark. According to Wageningen University & Research, the self-sufficiency rate stands at around 300%. This creates tension between supply levels and sales opportunities.

Dcamarketintelligence.com