Great Britain tops feed costs: Global pork costs compared

Key points

• Great Britain’s outdoor systems have consistently recorded the highest straw and bedding costs for breeding pigs
• Italy and Great Britain have alternated as the countries with the highest feed costs for the past five years
• Austria and Ukraine recorded the highest veterinary and medicine expenses in 2024
• Ukraine topped energy costs in 2024, reaching 0.37p
• Austria recorded the highest labour cost in 2024 at 0.20p

Feed costs

Over the past five years, Italy and Great Britain have alternated as the countries with the highest feed costs.

In 2022, Great Britain recorded its peak feed cost at 1.58p per unit for outdoor systems the highest figure across all countries that year. Italy followed closely, reaching its own peak of 1.57p per unit.

These elevated 2022 costs were driven by poor crop conditions, prolonged dry weather and significant disruption linked to the war in Ukraine.

Over the five‑year period, Italy’s feed costs have averaged 1.29p per unit, while Great Britain’s indoor and outdoor systems have averaged 1.25p per unit.

In contrast, Brazil (MT) continues to demonstrate a strong cost advantage. Feed costs in 2024 were 0.60p, down 0.18p year-on-year (YoY) returning to their lowest point in five years. After reaching a peak of 0.94p in 2022, costs have steadily declined, reflecting improved crop availability and more favourable market conditions.

Breeding costs

Breeding costs show a similarly wide international spread.

Great Britain (outdoor) recorded the highest cost in 2024 at 0.07p, an increase of 0.03p from the previous year.

Indoor systems in Great Britain performed slightly better at 0.05p.

Historically, breeding costs for indoor and outdoor systems have remained closely aligned, typically within 0.01p of each other. Over the past five years, outdoor systems have averaged 0.05p.

Italy recorded the lowest breeding cost in 2024 at 0.01p. Ukraine and the USA followed closely at 0.02p, with Ukraine maintaining a long‑term average of 0.01p and the USA slightly higher at 0.02p.

Brazil (SC) also continues to deliver low breeding expenditure, reporting 0.02p in 2024 and averaging 0.01p over five years.

Veterinary and medicine costs

Veterinary and medicine costs were highest in Austria and Ukraine in 2024, both at 0.08p. Both countries remained unchanged YoY.

Across five years, both countries have consistently ranked among the highest for veterinary costs, with Ukraine peaking at 0.11p in 2020 the highest level recorded across all participating nations during the period.

At the opposite end of the scale, Brazil (MT) and Canada recorded the lowest costs in 2024 at 0.03p.

Energy costs

Ukraine also led energy costs in 2024 at 0.37p, significantly above Finland, the next highest country. Energy costs remained stable at 0.10p in Ukraine until 2021 but surged sharply from 2022 onwards due to the impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Brazil (SC) recorded the lowest energy costs in 2024 at 0.01p, a level that has remained unchanged since 2022.

Maintenance costs

Germany held the highest maintenance costs for the fifth consecutive year, recording 0.08p in 2024.

In contrast, Hungary, Brazil (SC and MT), and Belgium shared the lowest maintenance cost at 0.01p.

Miscellaneous costs

Miscellaneous costs were again highest in Ukraine in 2024 at 0.32p, continuing a trend observed since 2021. The lowest costs were posted by Canada East and Brazil (MT) at 0.01p.

Over the past five years, Great Britain’s outdoor systems have consistently recorded the highest straw and bedding costs for breeding and rearing pigs.

In 2024, these costs reached 103.9p per pig the highest level seen over the period and 44.8p above Sweden, the second‑most expensive country.

Indoor systems in Great Britain were also comparatively high, at 48.2p per pig, placing them third behind Sweden. At the other end of the scale, Denmark reported one of the lowest straw and bedding costs in 2024, at just 5.9p per pig.

For finishing pigs, Great Britain’s outdoor systems recorded the highest straw and bedding costs only in 2024, 2021, and 2020, while Finland topped the rankings in the other years.

Austria reported the lowest finishing straw and bedding costs over the past five years, recording just 0.05p per pig in 2024 and remaining below 0.1p throughout the period.

Labour costs

Labour costs were highest in Finland at 0.22p in 2024, followed by Austria at 0.20p.

Brazil (SC) recorded the lowest labour cost at 0.05p. While relatively low, this still represents a small YoY increase.

Depreciation costs

Depreciation costs were highest in Ukraine at 0.46p in 2024, continuing a five-year trend.

Brazil (MT) again posted the lowest value at 0.05p. Average Interest costs followed a similar pattern, Ukraine recorded the highest average interest rate at 0.36p, while Portugal had the lowest at 0.02p.

Subscribe to receive pork market news straight to your inbox. Simply complete our online form.

While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.

All intellectual property rights in the information and data on this webpage belong to or are licensed by AHDB. You are authorised to use such information for your internal business purposes only and you must not provide this information to any other third parties, including further publication of the information, or for commercial gain in any way whatsoever without the prior written permission of AHDB for each third party disclosure, publication or commercial arrangement. For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice or contact the Director of Corporate Affairs at info@ahdb.org.uk  © Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. All rights reserved.