Dear readers,
Some reasons to enjoy your holiday:
- Pork exports from European Union (EU) member states continued to grow from January to May 2025. around 1.8 million tons of pork were exported from January to May , representing a 1.8% increase compared to the same period last year.Spain maintained its position as the top exporter with around 608,000 tonnes , an 11% increase. Spanish exports therefore account for more than a third of total pork exports from EU Member States. The Netherlands came in second with around 284,000 tons. Denmark is third ,with 212,000 tons (-14% compared to the previous year).China was the most important destination for EU pork, followed by the UK, the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea. Frozen pork was in particularly strong demand, accounting for the largest share of exports, at nearly 700,000 tons. Slaughterhouse by-products also increased year-on-year, with sales primarily in Asia.
- The federal state of Thuringia (Germany) has allocated €3.5 million to support farms investing in improved housing conditions for livestock. The largest portion of this sum — €2.8 million — is specifically aimed at raising standards in pig farms: increasing space per animal, providing activity areas, and improving ventilation and cooling systems.
Events calendar:
- The Beyond Food Expo is a food and technology fair held annually at the Khon Kaen International Convention and Exhibition Center (KICE) in Thailand. The exhibition takes place on 3 days from Thursday, 07.08.2025 to Saturday, 09.08.2025 in Khon Kaen.
- Vietfood & Beverage is an annual trade fair for food and beverages that is bringing together industry professionals from around the world in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It takes place on 3 days from Thursday, 07.08.2025 to Saturday, 09.08.2025.
- The Food & Beverages Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, is an a trade show focusing on the food and beverage industry, as well as kitchen equipment. It takes place on 3 days from Saturday, 09.08.2025 to Monday, 11.08.2025.
Farmers Almanach
I was asked several times about the competition represented by the meat alternatives to our industry. My answer was: it’ s a hype, nothing to be scared of, on the long run. The proof: Beyond Meat is changing its name, moving away from its association with meat and toward a different marketing narrative. The „meat” will disappear from its name. CEO Ethan Brown, in an interview, admitted a “disappointing” first quarter of 2025, with year-on-year sales down by 9%. The company’s market value has shrunk by around 95% since its 2019 listing.
USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) said that its China bureau has heard from importers in the country that their attempts to apply for tariff exclusions were met with an automated notification that “no new applications will be accepted” starting Aug. 1, and that existing exclusions will be halted after Sept. 14.The practical effect will be to raise duties paid by Chinese importers by 30 percentage points: from 57% to 87% for pork cuts and variety meats.
Can Europe benefit from this ? First, we should see who will take over the Vion assets in Germany. Premium Food Group’s(PFG) offer was rejected by the Competition Authority and a “new “ competitor has arrived: the number two player of the German market, the Westfleisch cooperative. It is already a public show: Team Rubber Boots versus Team Glamour. On one side is the cooperative with its 5,000 farmers, and on the other is the billionaire Tönnies family. Westfleisch CEO Wilhelm Uffelman publicly stated this on Wednesday at an information event at Ammersee: “Unlike potential competitors, as a cooperative we know exactly what the agricultural sector needs and want to take responsibility together with Bavarian farmers.” However, Westfleisch only decided to do so after the Federal Cartel Office prohibited PFG from taking over the Vion sites. Also, Westfleisch claims that they did not bid earlier due to the negotiations for the assets of Danish Crown in Germany. Will this bid be accepted by the Competition Authority? We will see in the next Farmers Almanach.
