Swiss pig farmers fight for survival as pork prices collapse by 27%
Swiss pig farmers are facing severe financial strain as pork prices plummet. The average price for slaughter pigs has dropped by 27 percent in recent months, leaving breeders like Martin Eicher with heavy losses. Despite efforts to adapt, many are struggling to stay afloat in an oversupplied market.
Over the past five years, demand for pork in Switzerland has fallen by 10–15 percent. Annual consumption per person dropped from around 26 kilos in 2021 to about 22 kilos in 2025. Factors include rising vegetarian and vegan diets, concerns over animal welfare, and higher feed costs pushing up prices. Campaigns promoting alternative proteins, such as those by Pro Natura, have also played a role.
Current production levels far exceed demand. Swiss farmers now raise 53,000 slaughter pigs each week, well above the 44,000 needed for a balanced market. This surplus has driven prices down from CHF 4.51 to CHF 3.30 per kilo, forcing breeders into difficult financial positions.
Martin Eicher, whose farm relies on pigs for 80 percent of its operations, loses CHF 102,000 a year at the current rate. To ease losses, he and his brother recently sold their breeding boar for CHF 30,000. Eicher has also secured a deal with a Jura butcher who pays 70 rappen above the standard price, offering some relief.
In response to the crisis, Suisseporcs, the national pig breeding association, is setting up a fund. Its aim is to help farmers leave the industry, reducing overall production and stabilising prices.
The drop in pork prices has left many Swiss farmers with unsustainable losses. With demand continuing to fall and production remaining high, the industry faces further challenges. The exit fund from Suisseporcs may provide a way out for struggling breeders, but the long-term impact on pork farming in Switzerland remains uncertain.
