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In 2025, the French swine industry recorded a slight increase in the swine inventory and production, marking a break in the decline observed in previous years.
After a continuous decline between 2021 and 2024, the French breeding herd will see a slight recovery in 2025, reaching 852,000 head, or 5,000 additional sows (+0.6%). The total swine inventory also increased by 0.8% to 11.9 million head. In 2024, it declined more significantly compared to 2020 (-11%).
Pig production reflects this change in livestock numbers only to a limited extent. The number of heads slaughtered remained virtually stable in 2025 (+0.2%). On the other hand, slaughter volume increased more significantly (+0.7%), due to an increase in the average carcass weight.
The average annual weight reached 95.6 kg in 2025, after 95.2 kg in 2024, confirming a long-term upward trend (87.1 kg in 1999). This change can be explained in particular by farmers' desire to get the best value for their animals when economic conditions allow. The Uniporc grid, which favors the valuation of heavy carcasses, also contributes to this dynamic.
With a pork production of 2.1 million tonnes carcass weight equivalent (CWE) in 2025, France remains the third largest European producer, behind Spain (5.2 million CWE, +5.7%) and Germany (4.3 million CWE, +1.1%).
February 2026/ FranceAgriMer/ France.
https://www.franceagrimer.fr
