The data recently presented leaves no room for doubt: the 2024 financial year closed with a record turnover of €25 billion. This figure, combined with the creation of 415,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, reinforces the structural role of pork within the national agri-food chain, representing 44% of Final Livestock Production, 16.1% of Final Agricultural Production, and nearly 9.5% of industrial GDP.
Focusing on production, it reached 4.92 million tons (+0.97%), a volume that includes 1.47 million tons of processed products, including sausages, hams, and cured shoulders.
This growth was also made possible by a livestock census that increased by 2%, reaching more than 30.8 million animals, with more than 67,500 active farms spread across much of rural Spain.
On the international front, 2024 also reinforced our global leadership. Spain firmly remained the world's second-largest exporter and the first in the European Union, with 2.72 million tons exported for a value of €8.784 billion. These figures remain close to historical highs and reflect a smart and sustainable strategy: selling less, but with higher quality and value.
This approach has allowed the industry to maintain the position as the sector with the second largest trade surplus in the Spanish economy, behind only the automotive sector, with a positive external balance of €8.1 billion. Furthermore, the exports now represent 85% of the country's total meat exports, 17% of the food industry's exports, and 2.2% of the national total.
In 2024, Spanish households consumed 816,500 tons of white pork and pork products (up 2.84%), with a total expenditure of €7.707 billion (up 5.6%) and a per capita consumption of 20.5 kg. These data reflect that pork continues to be valued for its flavor, quality, versatility, and excellent value.
These are very positive figures, and it's also time to remember that none of this would be possible without the commitment of those who make up this value chain: livestock farmers, technicians, veterinarians, transporters, industrial operators, distributors, exporters... Thanks to their efforts, we continue to lead the sector, not only in terms of volume but also in terms of excellence, sustainability, and vision for the future.
INTERPORC, reaffirms theirs commitment to this competitive and socially responsible model. INTERPORC is prepared to continue internationalizing intelligently, communicate truthfully, and build a powerhouse that is not only productive but also ethical and sustainable. The Spanish pork industry is not just an economic sector: it is a story of collective success and confidence in the future.
euromeatnews.com