This decrease occurred despite an increase in the quantity produced, which the technical services of the Agriculture department estimate at 3.26%. The price drop, calculated at 7.19% by the ministry led by Òscar Ordeig, has been the determining factor in the reduction of the total production value.
The African swine fever (ASF) crisis, detected on November 28 with the first infected wild boar in the province of Barcelona, has significantly impacted the sector. This situation has led to a collapse in prices, generating significant losses for producers for over four months.
In March, producers lost 17 cents of a euro per kilo of live animal, representing about 17 euros for each hundred-kilo animal sent to the slaughterhouse.
According to the latest ministry report, costs remained stable at around 1.33 euros per kilo in March, while the average price stood at 1.16 euros. These losses, although the lowest in the last four months, reached 25 euros per pig in December and up to 34 euros in January and February.
The ministry's analysis also highlights an increase in
expenses and discounts" applied by slaughterhouses, which rose from 1 cent per kilo to 3 cents since January 2026. The cost of feed has moderated over the past twelve months, decreasing from 91 cents per kilo last April to an average of 83-84 cents this year, while other costs have remained stable at 49 cents.
