Can Germany’s pig industry still smile?

Since 2000, Germany’s pig meat production and pig meat exports have shown a remarkable dynamic. Most recent developments seem to indicate, however, the end of a boom phase. This overview analyses both growth as well as the present situation. Between 2000 and 2012, German pig meat production increased from 3.9 million tonnes to 5.0 million tonnes or by 29% (Figure 1). The growth rates were especially high between 2006 and 2012, when the production volume increased by 751,000 tonnes. This rema