European Union: Livestock and Products Annual

EU domestic beef production is under pressure from a shrinking dairy herd (with increased milk deliveries but a lower output of animals for slaughter). In combination with a reduction of imports from the United Kingdom and South America, the availability of lower quality beef is tight. While the beef cow herd has increased in Central Europe, the Balkans, and Baltics, this is most likely a temporary increase. Despite a series of negative market factors in 2020, the EU swine sector is projected to produce a record volume of pork in 2021. As a result of Europe’s success in diversifying its export markets, falling pork exports to China are expected to be largely offset by increased exports to other markets.