According to the NPA, the situation is becoming critical for many English pig producers. Some farmers have been informed that their supply volumes will be reduced, while others have had their contracts with processors terminated entirely.
The association says that all four of the UK’s largest pork processors have reviewed their contracts. In particular, the largest company, Cranswick, has for some time been expanding its own pig production in order to gain greater control over its supply chain.
At the same time, other processors require fewer pigs because of increased supply on the domestic market.
Pork Production Up by Around 5%
UK pork production in 2026 is currently around 5% higher than a year earlier. One of the reasons has been a significant increase in average carcase weights.
This has also reduced the country’s need for imported pork. In the second quarter, imports totalled just under 180,000 tonnes, 8% less than in the same period last year.
As a result, the UK’s pork self-sufficiency rate has increased from 61% last year to 66% in 2026.
Spot Prices Well Below Production Costs
Low purchasing prices are adding further pressure on producers.
The UK Standard Pig Price (SPP) stood at the equivalent of around €2.08/kg this month. This was approximately €0.035 higher than two months earlier, but €0.31/kg lower than last summer.
On the spot market, however, where pigs left without contracts have to be sold, prices are often only around €1.50/kg or even lower.
The NPA expects that an additional 10,000–15,000 pigs could enter the spot market this autumn as terminated contracts come to an end.
NPA Proposes Compensation for the Gap Between Market Prices and Production Costs
The association has submitted a package of proposals to the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to support pig producers in England.
One of the key mechanisms proposed is compensation for the difference between the spot market price and production costs for farmers forced to sell pigs on the open market after losing contracts.
The NPA is also proposing a restructuring scheme for farms that reduce production or leave the sector entirely. The association acknowledges that some of its members may be forced to take this route in the near future.
In addition, the NPA is calling for a slaughter premium for pigs and a government-funded scheme to finance the cold storage of pork until the supply-demand balance improves or the product can be sold on export markets.
Industry Calls for More Data and Transparency
Another proposal concerns the creation of a data collection system that would allow more accurate forecasts of the breeding pig population and the number of piglets born. A similar mechanism is already used in the UK poultry sector, while AHDB is examining the possibility of introducing one for pig production.
The NPA insists that such a system would need to be mandatory to be effective.
The association is also calling for greater transparency over the use of imported pork in the HoReCa and foodservice sectors, where it believes the share of foreign product is significantly higher than in retail.
The NPA is also proposing a clearer code of conduct for the entire supply chain to regulate relationships between producers and processors.
PigUA.info, based on materials from foodagribusiness.world