European pig prices broke in the middle of September. German slaughter pigs are down 9.7 percent over the past month and Dutch pigs 10.3 percent, after the German recommended price was cut to EUR 1.45/kg on oversupply reported from numerous regions. Meat could only be marketed hesitantly, and the following week brought greater stability while the situation was still described as tense.
The correction sits on top of a strong year. French pork on a deadweight basis is still 17.6 percent higher over three months and 7.2 percent over twelve, although it is 4.3 percent lower on the month. Spanish pigs have held up better, down 3.2 percent. In Germany the pig herd stayed almost unchanged in 2026, with slaughterings from January to July only 0.2 percent above last year.
In our newly published Meat & Poultry Q4 2026 Market Outlook, our analyst Jorn Hansen sets out what he expects for pigs into 2027, alongside our AI forecast for French pork.
Download the Meat & Poultry Q4 2026 Market Outlook
What our Meat & Poultry Q4 2026 Market Outlook answers
The report covers pork, beef and veal, and poultry in Europe. For pork, it answers:
- Will European pig prices recover in Q4 2026?
- What is the pork price forecast for 2027?
- Why are Spanish pig prices holding up better than German and Dutch prices?
- How is African swine fever affecting the Spanish pork trade?
- How far can the pig price correction run?
- What needs to happen for EU pig prices to stabilize?
- What is the outlook for French pork deadweight prices?
- How are pork, beef and poultry prices moving differently this quarter?
- Where does Vesper’s AI forecast see pork prices by Q2 2027?
