22.10.2015
Category: Pig
By: Carlos García Rodríguez

The rise of Spanish pig sector


piglets

chart: spanisch pig prod.

Source: SGPG, Min. d. Agricultura, 2015

With about 3.5 million tons of pork, or 18 percent of the EU census, Spain is the second-largest producer in the EU and the fourth-largest producer in the world.

The Spanish pig sector represents 14 percent of Spanish agricultural production. It ranks first in terms of economic importance within Spanish livestock production, representing 36.8 percent (2014 data). It is therefore the most important of the Spanish livestock sectors, being its contribution to the livestock farmers’ income the highest. 

At international level, Spain is the fourth-largest pig producer (after China, USA and Germany). Within the EU-27, Spain is the second member in terms of pork production, with 18 percent of the EU census and 17.3 percent of the production (data 2014).

The Spanish pork sector is characterised by its high self-sufficiency (157.6 percent in 2014, Source: SG Statistics, AEAT, INE) which, in turn, requires exports to keep the market stable. Thus Spain has become the third largest exporter of pork in the EU just behind Germany and Denmark. In an international context, the EU is the main exporter (around 37 percent of world exports).

In recent years, new animal welfare legislation comes into force, requiring to keep sows in groups during the period of gestation. The complete implementation of this legislation has been possible in Spain thanks to a major effort of the Spanish administration and, especially, to the technical and economic efforts made by the productive sector.

Further information about economic indicators and the characterisation of Spanish pig sector (in Spanish):

Opens external link in new windowMinisterio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente: Porcino


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