Summary

Since 2020, the global pig production and market have seen significant shifts. World pig production saw a rebound from a 15.3% drop in 2020 to a 19.6% growth between 2020 and 2022, fueled by a strong recovery in Chinese production, which rose from 47.5 million tons in 2021 to 55.4 million tons in 2022. Globally, pig herds stood at 452.6 million in China, 134.4 million in the EU, and other significant numbers in Brazil, Russia, and Canada in 2023. The pork market, estimated at $254.53 billion in 2022, is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 10.2% reaching over $417 billion by 2028. In contrast, the European pig herd and pork production have declined, with the EU seeing a 7.9% decrease in herd size and a 3.5% drop in pork production from 2018 to 2022. Italy, in particular, experienced a 4.7% contraction in pig herd size and an 8.0% decrease in livestock slaughter numbers between 2018 and 2022. Despite this, the value of pork production sold remained relatively stable, even seeing a 15.5% growth from 2018 to 2022. Regarding imports, Italy relies heavily on foreign live pigs and pork, facing a decline in self-sufficiency from 63.8% in 2019 to 59.2% in 2022. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has further impacted costs, with the consumer price index for pork rising by 15% between 2022 and 2023 and producer prices seeing a 30% spike in the same period. Pork retains a 20% share of Italy's meat consumption, with household spending on pork slightly fluctuating by 4% between 2017 and 2021, while per capita consumption slightly declined by 1.7% from 2018 to 2022.

Market Demand Trends in Italian Pork Consumption

In Italy, the consumption of pork holds a significant slice of the meat consumption pie, with 20% of Italians' total meat intake derived from pork products. However, there is a noticeable demographic divide in preferences, with younger consumers in the age bracket of under 65 leaning more towards pork, as opposed to a 7% lower consumption rate among women compared to men. Interestingly, the southern region of the country demonstrates the highest weekly pork consumption rate at over 50%, pointing towards regional palate preferences. A shifting trend has been observed with regard to household expenditure on pork, which experienced an increase from approximately 110 to 120 euros per year from 2017 to 2021. In spite of this financial uptick, the per capita consumption of pork has seen a marginal overall decline of about 1.7 percent between 2018 and 2022.

Nonetheless, recent data shows a rebound in both expenditure and volume, particularly between 2021 and 2022, with pork being the only primary meat witnessing a rise in both metrics—expenditure jumped by over 10%, and volume by approximately 4%. This observed demand and consumption pattern aligns with the broader market structure which, between 2018 and 2022, saw a reduction in the number of pig farms by approximately 15%, with the number of farms dropping from about 33,000 to below 30,000. Interestingly, while there has been a decrease in the number of pig farms, the number of pigs raised over the years dipped by less than 5%, with numbers falling from over 8.5 million to just under 8.5 million between 2018 and 2023. The Italian market demand for pork showcases intricate ties to the age and gender of consumers, geographical preferences, fluctuating household expenditures, and a resilient but slightly waning per capita consumption rate. Amidst a declining number of pig farms, the country has still managed to sustain a relatively steady headcount of pigs raised, underlining a potentially consolidating market with possibly increasing farm productivity..

Key Players in Italy's Pig Farming and Slaughtering Landscape

Italy's pig farming and slaughtering industry is supported by a range of established companies that have been pivotal in shaping the market. These companies are not only significant for their production capabilities but also for their commitment to quality, sustainability, and adherence to stringent European regulations governing animal welfare.

Pro Sus Pig Producers Cooperative: Established in 1985, this cooperative has become a beacon of pork production excellence in Italy. The cooperative is distinguished for producing a wide array of pork products, which include anatomical cuts and fresh hams. Pro Sus is deeply rooted in sustainable practices, managing thousands of hectares for grain cultivation used in pig feed, ensuring a fully traceable and sustainable supply chain.
Azienda Agricola Filiera Uno s.r.l: A relatively newer entrant, founded in 2012, Filiera Uno prides itself on traditional pig rearing methods and breeds such as Large White, Landrace, and Duroc. Their focus on animal welfare is commendable, providing an environment that meets the psychological and physical needs of the pigs.
Società Agricola Agripig s.r.l: Since its inception in 1993, Agripig has been passionate about pig raising and processing, offering products from single cuts to traditional cured meats. The company prides itself on following rigorous standards, which is indicative of their commitment to quality and hygiene.
Su.It. Suini Italiani s.r.l: With a start in the 1990s, Su.It. has brought modern and environmentally friendly breeding systems to the forefront in Italy. Their organic pig farm, Bio Su.it, is a testament to their dedication to organic and sustainable farming practices.
Società Agricola Aldobrando s.r.l: Since 1996, Aldobrando has been a significant player in the pig farming space from Cesena. Their success is reflective of Italy's rich tradition in pig rearing.
Allevamenti di Nerviano s.r.l: Originating from Nerviano in Milan since 1962, this farm has established itself as one of the major pig producers, attesting to their longstanding expertise.
Seralba s.r.l: Specializing in pig farming since the 1980s, Seralba represents one of the stalwarts of the Bergamo pig farming scene, focusing on high-quality production.
Borgolandia s.r.l

The pig farming market - Italy

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Number of pages : 30 pages
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Last update : 28/11/2023

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Summary and extracts

1 Synthèse du marché

1.1 Introduction

The pig farming market in Italy is a major sector within the national livestock industry, consisting of the production and marketing of pigs for food purposes.

There are various types of pig farming, a first distinction is between breeding and fattening farms, the latter can in turn be distinguished into intensive, on straw and free range[Unina]:

Breeding
Fattening
- Intensive
- On straw
- Outdoor

Pig farming has a long history of interaction with humans, as evidenced by fossil records found in various parts of the world. In Italy, ls pig farming has assumed a significant role in agricultural practices, with the tradition of pig farming in Emilia dating back to the late Middle Ages.[Gransuinoitaliano].

Today, There are about 27, 000 pig farms in Italy, but if we include family farms the number rises to 115 ,000. The largest number of facilities is concentrated mainly in Campania, but intensive-type production is concentrated in Lombardy, where half of all pigs in the country are raised. Lombardy is followed, again in number of facilities, by Piedmont,Emilia Romagna and Veneto. These animals in Italy are often used for the production of products exported all over the world, such as PDO hams, salami and other sausages.[Beinganimals]

The global market size of the pig breeding industry was $30.6 billion in 2022, and decreased 2.2 percent from 2021.[Ibisworld]

This study focuses specifically on the pig farming market in Italy. For detailed information on related markets, such as the cured meat industry, please refer to the specific studies available in the Businesscoot catalog.

2 Analyse de la demande

3 Structure du marché

4 Analyse de l'offre

5 Règlementation

6 Positionnement des acteurs

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Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Cooperativa Produttori Suini Pro Sus

Azienda Agricola Filiera Uno s.r.l

Granterre s.p.a

Fratelli Beretta s.p.a

Martini Alimentare s.r.l

O.P.A.S Società Cooperativa Agricola

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