Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 24, France’s pork self-sufficiency rate fell below 100 percent for the first time this century, reaching 98.6 percent in the first half of 2025 compared with 100 percent in 2024, according to FranceAgriMer, the national agency for agriculture and fisheries.

The self-sufficiency rate is calculated by adding total domestic production and imports, then subtracting exports to determine apparent consumption. Historically above 100 percent since 2000 – peaking at 108 percent in 2011 and slightly over 107 percent in 2020 – the recent decline indicates that national production no longer fully meets domestic demand.

Over the past decade (2014–2024), France lost approximately 3 percent of its specialised pig producers annually, more than double the 1.4 percent average departure rate across all agricultural sectors. As a result, only 5,700 specialised pig farms remain, accounting for 1.4 percent of the country’s total farms.

Although average farm size has increased, the national pig herd contracted from over 14 million head in 2010 to 11.7 million in 2024.

To satisfy consumption, France imported 337,000 tonnes of pork in 2024, a rise of nearly 7 percent from 2023. Spain supplied the majority, approximately 220,000 tonnes. Additionally, France imported 240,000 tonnes of processed pork products such as charcuterie.

On the export side, France shipped 447,000 tonnes of pork worldwide in 2024, similar to the previous year but 10 percent lower than in 2022.

Inaporc, the French pork industry organisation, stated: “The evolution of the national production hardly can keep up with demand. Despite a return of stability in the production and a light increase of the tonnage produced, the self-sufficiency rate has further declined to 98% last year. The sector is struggling to maintain production in line with demand because of the unsuitable regulations, preventing the necessary investments for the future. The renewal of the generations to ensure the food sovereignty of our country is not guaranteed. Inaporc therefore is calling on the authorities to lift the brakes on the recovery or expanding of farms, which will allow it to achieve its targets set for 2023.”

The shift from surplus to slight deficit reflects ongoing structural changes in French pig farming, including farm consolidation and regulatory challenges affecting investment and generational renewal.