Swine news - Economy

European Commission announces €1 billion funding for more sustainable agriculture, food and rural development.

The European Commission has approved the creation of a joint venture by Evonik Industries AG of Germany and Koninklijke DSM N.V. of the Netherlands.

The simplified rules agreed as part of the Omnibus concern direct payments, rural development, the common market organisation and horizontal regulation, and will benefit farmers in a number of ways.

The programmes are designed to help producers in the EU agri-food sector communicate about the quality of their products.

Published by the European Commission, the latest monthly trade report shows that European agri-food exports remain strong for August 2017 further increasing the trade balance to €2.4 billion.

Year-on-year increase by 7% encouraged by the rise in domestic consumption, that reached 13.7 kg per capita and with an expected growth of 8-9.5% in 2017.

After years of consecutive drops in meat consumption, last year the figures were similar to those of the previous year.

The matters related to the technical cooperation and the exchange of experiences in the electronic certification of livestock products were addressed.

According to USDA "Quarterly Hogs and Pigs (September 2017)", United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on September 1, 2017 was 73.5 million head. This was up 2 percent from September 1, 2016, and up 3 percent from June 1, 2017.

Global production is forecast up nearly 2 percent in 2018 to 113.1 million tons, primarily on expansion in China and to a lesser extent the United States.

China’s pork imports are forecast to decline for the second consecutive year in 2018 as domestic production gains reduce demand of imported pork.

Livestock production in Mexico attained an historic growth by reaching a record production of 6.5 million tonnes (carcass weight) in 2016, that meant an increase by 202,000 tonnes (3.2% more than in 2015), according to the data of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA).

The Agriculture and Livestock Confederation of Brazil organised a meeting of representatives of Mercosur’s private sector with the main EU negotiator, Ms Sandra Gallina, and South American negotiators.

In the last five years, pork consumption per capita in the countries in this region raised from 4.6 kg in 2012 to 5.3 kg in 2016, and the growth was encouraged mainly by Panama and Costa Rica.

Three companies have been authorised for the export of Brazilian pork to South Korea.

The Minister, Mr Blairo Maggi, highlights that the decision of the Asian country reveals the trust in the Brazilian health service.

The fall in production is expected to taper off by the end of the year, reflecting the increase in the herd size.

Since 2013, exports to Japan have consistently increased, becoming in 2015 the second most important destination for EU pork products, although far below China.

The growing production of pigmeat combined with falling exports could lead to lower prices. This is just one of the findings of the latest short term outlook report from the European Commission's agriculture and rural development department.

The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supplies of Brazil, Mr Blairo Maggi, announced the agreement during his trade mission in Peru.

The Exchange Council of EEX to delete the specifications of Piglet and Hog Futures from the EEX Contract Specifications.

Post projects Japan’s total hog slaughter in 2017 to sustain at nearly the same level as the previous year at around 16.37 million head.

The most significant volumes of exports were traditionally provided by poultry farmers.

In a historical change, Mexico has begun exporting swine for breeding purposes.