EU Meat Production Hits Boundaries

In 2016, cattle herd levels are expected to grow marginally for the EU as a whole, but there will be a great deal of fluctuation within several EU Member States due to the abolishment of the EU milk quota this year. Elevated swine slaughter, mostly in Spain and Germany, will result in an excess supply of pork that cannot be absorbed by the current level of EU demand. As a result, the EU is forecast to export a record volume of pork in 2015.
The current negative market conditions are anticipated to result in a smaller sow herd, and as a consequence reduced pork production and exports in 2016. Policy highlights include the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), an update on the EU High Quality Beef (HQB) quota, the Russian ban on EU pork and political sanctions, and the Emergency Farm Council Meeting.