Chinese Tariffs Pressure the European Market
According to S&P Global Commodity Insights (Platts), European pork prices dropped sharply after China imposed import tariffs on September 10, 2025. As of October 10, the EU pork market price stood at $4,302 per ton, down $117 from the previous month. Likewise, on October 13, pork belly prices for North Asia fell by $151, reaching $5,349 per ton.
Spanish exporters noted that only a few categories of pork — mainly bone-in cuts — remained profitable after the tariffs were introduced. However, by October, even these became unviable.
“We have completely stopped selling bone-in parts to China — nobody is doing it anymore,” said one Spanish exporter.
Domestic Markets Take Priority
With demand from China, Japan, and South Korea weakening, European companies are refocusing on the domestic market, where prices are more stable despite seasonal fluctuations.
“Supply in Europe is also high because other markets have slowed down: Japan and Korea reduced purchases, and China is completely out of the game due to tariffs,” explained another Spanish exporter.
Japan remains a particularly challenging market, with suppliers describing prices as “extremely depressed”, making profitable sales difficult.
South Korean traders confirm that a seasonal demand slowdown typically occurs in autumn and continues until Christmas.
Price Pressure and Decline in Frozen Exports
With fewer profitable export destinations available, European producers are competing more aggressively at home, adding further pressure on domestic prices.
Many exporters are also avoiding frozen exports, citing uncertainty about future market prices amid a downward trend.
“It’s not a good time to freeze — all Spanish plants, if possible, sell directly on the domestic market,” said one trader.
Exporters emphasize that the domestic market offers more predictable demand cycles, shorter turnaround times, and lower risks associated with storage costs and price volatility.
Anticipation of a Seasonal Rebound
Despite current price declines, traders expect pork demand to rebound in December, driven by traditional pre-holiday stockpiling by retailers and food manufacturers.
“We expect prices to rise in the first two weeks of December compared to October and November,” said a Spanish exporter.
For now, exporters are focused on clearing frozen inventory to free up storage capacity and minimize losses if prices continue to fall.
Conclusion
The European pork market is undergoing a period of adjustment to new trade realities caused by China’s tariff policy and the broader weakening of Asian demand. Producers are now prioritizing domestic consumers, placing their hopes on the seasonal holiday surge in demand, which traditionally helps stabilize the market toward the end of the year.
Source: PigUA.info, based on materials from spglobal.com