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Romania, supported by Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia, raised an “Any Other Business” (AOB) item at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 23 February 2026, calling for exceptional EU support for the pig sector amid worsening market conditions.
According to data published by the European Commission on carcass price evolution in the European Union, a continuous downward trend has been observed since October 2025, increasing pressure on pig producers and threatening the economic viability of farms.
In December 2025, compared with December 2024, S-class carcass prices fell by 19.90% at EU level (-18.60% in Romania), while E-class carcasses declined by 16.80% at EU level (-17.70% in Romania). The negative trend has intensified in the first weeks of 2026, reflected in a sharp drop in live pig prices.
In Romania, during week 4 (19–25 January 2026), prices decreased by 9.55% compared to the previous week, by 19.17% compared to four weeks earlier, and by 21.02% compared both to the same period in 2025 and to the five-year average.
The market imbalance is also visible in increasing carcass weights, which rose by 5% in Romania compared to four weeks earlier. This reflects reduced demand and the accumulation of animals on farms. Without intervention, delegations warned, the market is unlikely to recover in the coming weeks.
The difficulties affecting the EU pork sector are linked to the duties imposed by China on EU pork imports for the next five years, as well as export restrictions introduced by certain third countries due to African swine fever (ASF) and the lack of recognition of EU regionalisation measures.
Given high production costs and falling prices — with estimated losses in Romania ranging between €35 and €40 per slaughtered pig — Romania requested that the Commission analyse the possibility of activating exceptional support measures under Article 219 (“Measures against market disturbance”) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets.
The discussion highlights growing concern among several member states about the financial sustainability of pig production across the EU.
23 February 2026 / Council – Agriculture and Fisheries Council / European Union.
