UK pork production rises 2.8%, but growth continues to slow

UK pork production reached 246.6 thsd tons in the third quarter of 2026, up 2.8% from the same period last year but down 1.6% from the second quarter. According to Defra and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), this was the highest third-quarter production volume since 2022. However, annual growth has continued to slow, declining from 5.3% in the first quarter to 4.8% in the second and 2.8% in the third.

During January–September 2026, UK producers generated 754 thsd tons of pork, an increase of 31.3 thsd tons, or 4.3%, compared with the same period in 2025. September production totaled 84.1 thsd tons, up 6.3% from August but down 0.2% year-on-year. This marked the first annual decline in monthly pork production since August 2025.

Total slaughter of finished pigs reached 2.64 mln head in the third quarter, up 2.3% from a year earlier. During the first nine months of the year, slaughter totaled 7.92 mln head, an increase of 2.4% year-on-year. The average carcass weight of finished pigs was 89.9 kg, down 2.1 kg from the previous quarter but still 0.1 kg above the year-earlier level. This indicates that production growth was mainly driven by higher slaughter numbers rather than heavier animals.

Meanwhile, the most significant changes were recorded in the breeding herd. Sow and boar slaughter rose 15.4% year-on-year to 56 thsd head in July–September, the highest quarterly figure since late 2023. Over the first nine months, slaughter in this category increased by 10.2%. AHDB analysts note that a sustained increase in sow culling may indicate a gradual contraction of the breeding herd, potentially affecting pork production volumes in 2027.

The main pressures on the UK pig industry remain weak domestic demand, particularly for processed pork, declining pig prices and rising production costs. According to AHDB, these factors are already prompting some producers to reduce their herds or exit the industry. This trend is expected to continue into 2027, potentially restricting pig supplies and gradually bringing production and demand into better balance.

Tags: UK, pork