Eastern Europe: Pork Market 2025

Pork Market Size in Eastern Europe

In 2022, the East European pork market increased by 2.6% to $X, rising for the second consecutive year after three years of decline. In general, consumption, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The level of consumption peaked at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Pork Production in Eastern Europe

In value terms, pork production stood at $X in 2022 estimated in export price. Overall, production recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 13% against the previous year. The level of production peaked at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, production failed to regain momentum.

The country with the largest volume of pork production was Russia (X tons), comprising approx. 49% of total volume. Moreover, pork production in Russia exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest producer, Poland (X tons), twofold. Ukraine (X tons) ranked third in terms of total production with an 8% share.

In Russia, pork production expanded at an average annual rate of +5.3% over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining producing countries recorded the following average annual rates of production growth: Poland (+0.7% per year) and Ukraine (+0.1% per year).

In 2022, the average pork yield in Eastern Europe shrank slightly to X kg per head, almost unchanged from the previous year's figure. Overall, the yield, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2015 when the yield increased by 2.4% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the pork yield hit record highs at X kg per head in 2021, and then contracted in the following year.

The global number of animals slaughtered for pork production contracted to X heads in 2022, stabilizing at the year before. This number increased at an average annual rate of +1.7% from 2012 to 2022; the trend pattern remained consistent, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 with an increase of 4.3% against the previous year. The level of producing animals peaked at X heads in 2021, and then declined modestly in the following year.

Pork Exports

Exports in Eastern Europe

In 2022, after two years of growth, there was significant decline in shipments abroad of pork, when their volume decreased by -8.4% to X tons. Overall, exports, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2017 when exports increased by 11% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports reached the peak figure at X tons in 2021, and then dropped in the following year.

In value terms, pork exports declined to $X in 2022. In general, exports recorded a slight descent. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2017 when exports increased by 22% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports reached the peak figure at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, the exports failed to regain momentum.

Exports by Country

Poland represented the major exporter of pork in Eastern Europe, with the volume of exports resulting at X tons, which was near 48% of total exports in 2022. It was distantly followed by Hungary (X tons), Russia (X tons) and the Czech Republic (X tons), together achieving a 44% share of total exports. The following exporters - Slovakia (X tons) and Estonia (X tons) - together made up 4.4% of total exports.

Poland experienced a relatively flat trend pattern with regard to volume of exports of pork. At the same time, Russia (+86.5%) and Hungary (+1.4%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Russia emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in Eastern Europe, with a CAGR of +86.5% from 2012-2022. Slovakia and Estonia experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, the Czech Republic (-1.9%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Russia (+18 p.p.) and Hungary (+1.5 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total exports from 2012-2022, the share of the Czech Republic (-1.5 p.p.) and Poland (-4.6 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Poland ($X) remains the largest pork supplier in Eastern Europe, comprising 48% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held by Hungary ($X), with a 23% share of total exports. It was followed by Russia, with a 16% share.

In Poland, pork exports contracted by an average annual rate of -1.2% over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining exporting countries recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Hungary (+0.2% per year) and Russia (+78.4% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The export price in Eastern Europe stood at $X per ton in 2022, with an increase of 7.4% against the previous year. In general, the export price, however, showed a slight downturn. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2017 when the export price increased by 10% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the export prices reached the peak figure at $X per ton in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, the export prices failed to regain momentum.

Average prices varied somewhat amongst the major exporting countries. In 2022, major exporting countries recorded the following prices: in Hungary ($X per ton) and Estonia ($X per ton), while Slovakia ($X per ton) and the Czech Republic ($X per ton) were amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Poland (-1.0%), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the export price figures.

Pork Imports

Imports in Eastern Europe

In 2022, overseas purchases of pork increased by 4.9% to X tons, rising for the second year in a row after two years of decline. In general, imports, however, recorded a slight downturn. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2021 with an increase of 12%. The volume of import peaked at X tons in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, imports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, pork imports expanded rapidly to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, imports, however, saw a pronounced setback. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2017 when imports increased by 21% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports hit record highs at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Imports by Country

Poland was the key importer of pork in Eastern Europe, with the volume of imports amounting to X tons, which was near 35% of total imports in 2022. Romania (X tons) held a 17% share (based on physical terms) of total imports, which put it in second place, followed by the Czech Republic (14%), Slovakia (7.2%), Hungary (7.2%) and Bulgaria (6.4%). Lithuania (X tons) took a minor share of total imports.

Imports into Poland increased at an average annual rate of +2.5% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, Romania (+8.7%), Slovakia (+7.9%), Bulgaria (+3.4%), the Czech Republic (+2.4%), Lithuania (+2.2%) and Hungary (+1.0%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Romania emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in Eastern Europe, with a CAGR of +8.7% from 2012-2022. Poland (+12 p.p.), Romania (+11 p.p.), the Czech Republic (+4.7 p.p.), Slovakia (+4.3 p.p.), Bulgaria (+2.5 p.p.) and Hungary (+1.7 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total imports, while the shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Poland ($X), Romania ($X) and the Czech Republic ($X) constituted the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2022, together comprising 67% of total imports.

Romania, with a CAGR of +10.1%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, among the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

The import price in Eastern Europe stood at $X per ton in 2022, rising by 9.2% against the previous year. Overall, the import price, however, continues to indicate a slight contraction. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when the import price increased by 14% against the previous year. The level of import peaked at $X per ton in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, import prices failed to regain momentum.

Average prices varied noticeably amongst the major importing countries. In 2022, major importing countries recorded the following prices: in the Czech Republic ($X per ton) and Slovakia ($X per ton), while Bulgaria ($X per ton) and Poland ($X per ton) were amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Romania (+1.3%), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the import price figures.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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