Dutch piglet exports fall nearly 15%

The Netherlands exported 3.75 mln piglets in January–September 2026, down 14.7% compared with the same period last year. Total shipments reached 3,746,637 head over the nine months, compared with 4,393,373 head a year earlier. The main factor behind the decline was weaker demand from Spain, which remains the largest buyer of Dutch piglets.

Shipments to Spain fell by 22.5% in the first three quarters of 2026 to 1.64 mln head, compared with 2.12 mln head in the corresponding period of 2025. Despite the sharp decline, Spain accounted for 43.8% of total Dutch piglet exports. Germany remained the second-largest buyer, importing 1.63 mln head, down 5.6% year over year. Together, the two countries accounted for 87.2% of total export shipments.

Belgium ranked third among export destinations, receiving 290.2 thsd piglets, down 4.1% from the same period last year. The sharpest decline was recorded in shipments to Romania, which plunged by 88.3%, from 94.1 thsd to 11 thsd head. Meanwhile, Italy significantly increased its purchases of Dutch piglets by 83.1% to 52.8 thsd head.

Despite the overall decline in exports, quarterly figures indicate that the pace of contraction has been gradually slowing. In the first quarter of 2026, shipments were 19.7% lower than a year earlier, followed by a 16.9% decline in the second quarter and just a 6.5% decrease in the third quarter. This suggests that the negative trend has been easing during the second half of the year.

Dutch piglet exports therefore remain heavily dependent on demand from Spain and Germany. Lower purchases in these markets continue to drive the overall decline in shipments, while increased exports to certain countries, particularly Italy, have not yet offset losses in the main destinations.

Tags: Netherlands, pig