In the first 11 months of 2024, the UK imported 249,000 tonnes of fresh pork from the EU, an increase of 12,000 tonnes compared to the same period in 2023. Frozen pork imports reached 61,500 tonnes, up by 7,000 tonnes year-on-year. British consumers also purchased 142,900 tonnes of European sausages, a 7,000-tonne increase, while bacon imports totaled 162,500 tonnes, a slight 3,400-tonne decrease compared to the previous year.
In terms of value, total pork, bacon, sausage, and other pork product imports in the first 11 months of 2024 amounted to £2.7 billion (€3.25 billion), just £30,000 (€36,000) less than in 2023.
Where Does the Imported Pork Go?
Most imported pork is used in processing industries and the hospitality sector, including roadside diners and cafés that serve traditional English breakfasts or bacon sandwiches. A significant portion of bacon imports also go to retail supermarkets.
According to the Pork Watch survey by the National Pig Association, 65-85% of all bacon sold in major UK supermarkets comes from the EU, with the Netherlands and Denmark being the leading suppliers. Tesco, for example, stocks 36% British bacon, while Lidl offers just 17%.
For sausages, the UK performs slightly better, with 78% of the supply coming from British processors. However, fresh pork is where domestic production dominates—88% of pork sold in supermarkets is of British origin. Leading retailers like Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, and Aldi exclusively sell British pork.
Gradual Recovery in Domestic Pork Production
The British pig industry is making efforts to increase its market share. After several challenging years, slaughter numbers and pork production are slowly rising.
In December 2024, clean pig slaughtering increased 10% year-on-year, reaching 852,000 head, while pork production rose by 8.9% to 77,000 tonnes, according to the UK Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). In January 2025, the growth rate slowed, with slaughter numbers rising 4.5% (to 868,000 head) and pork production up 4.6% (to 82,000 tonnes).
Profit Margins Under Pressure
Despite production recovery, profitability in the pig sector remains under pressure. The National Pig Association (NPA) recently reported that British pig farmers’ margins nearly halved in the last quarter of 2024 due to rising feed costs and lower pig prices, though the sector remained generally profitable.
A quarterly update from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) showed that average profit margins dropped from £19 per head in Q3 to £10 per head in the last quarter of 2024. The decline was attributed to higher production costs, mainly feed prices, and lower market prices for pigs.
Despite these challenges, NPA Chairman Rob Mutimer remained optimistic:
"This year has seen a reasonably stable pig market, with producers achieving positive margins in all four quarters. Although market prices have dropped in the last two quarters, we have been fortunate that cereal and protein prices remained competitive throughout the year, even with a very small UK 2024 harvest."
Conclusion
While British pork production is making slow progress, the country still heavily depends on EU imports, particularly for bacon, sausages, and fresh pork. Economic challenges such as rising production costs and fluctuating pig prices continue to impact the industry, but producers remain hopeful for gradual recovery and a stronger domestic market presence in the years ahead.