During the first six months of 2026, 28.4 million pigs were slaughtered in Spain, compared with 27.8 million in January–June 2025. This represents an increase of 2.1%.
Slaughter trends varied throughout the first half of the year. In January, slaughter totalled 4.99 million head, slightly below the previous year’s level. By contrast, February and March recorded year-on-year increases, reaching 4.98 million and 5.11 million head respectively. Slaughter in April also exceeded 2025 levels, while May saw a slight decline.
The increase in pork production was even more pronounced. In the first half of the year, output reached 2.76 million tonnes in carcase weight, 3.2% more than a year earlier. In the same period of 2025, Spain produced 2.67 million tonnes of pork.
The difference between the growth in slaughter numbers (+2.1%) and pork production (+3.2%) reflects an increase in average carcase weight.
Based on first-half figures, the average carcase weight rose from approximately 96 kg in 2025 to 97.1 kg in 2026.
Thus, the increase in Spanish pork production in the first half of the year was driven by two factors: a higher number of pigs slaughtered and an increase in their average carcase weight.
PigUA.info, based on data from Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA).