EU-28: Livestock and Products Annual
For the first time since 2002, the EU is expected to become a net exporter of beef for two successive years as less efficient dairy producers continue to switch to beef cattle. Good market conditions for the swine sector in 2016 and first half of 2017 has geared up the production of piglets, which is forecast to result in an increase in slaughter during the second half of this year. However, demand from China is forecast to be significantly lower pushing the European Commission and individual Member States to open alternative export markets for the anticipated oversupply of pork.