The number of pigs increased in 2009

After long-term decline, the decrease of the pig population in Hungary has stopped, even a minimal growth appeared last year. In Hungary one third of the pigs are from abroad.

According to the statistics of December; 3.2 million pigs were in the country, of which 226 thousand were sows. Since August 2008 stagnation or growth had not occurred in the pig population. The sow herd decreased since December 2006.
The Hungarian meat sector is not independent fromthe trends of EU. Average EU pig prces are sometimes 50 percent higher, than the prices at the world market. This is a clear export decline for the EU, while domestic consumption is forecasted to grow slightly – reports Origo.