Mink Fur Farming: General Trends

• Global peak: 2014, with 113,458,000 minks produced.

• Massive decline post-2014: By 2023, production fell to 14,068,000 — an 88% decrease from the peak.

• COVID-era crash: A sharp drop is seen from 2019 to 2021, with production nearly halved each year.

Top Producers and Changes

• China:

  • Absolute leader until 2019, peaking at 60,000,000 in 2014.

  • Drastic decline after: only 3,880,000 in 2023.

• EU Countries (notably Denmark, Poland, Netherlands):

  • Denmark: Peaked in 2014 at 17,888,000, then fell to 0 in 2021, slight bounce in 2023.

  • Poland: 2nd highest in EU; also declined from 9,500,000 (2014) to 3,000,000 (2023).

  • Netherlands: Consistent until 2020 ban, then 0 thereafter.

European Union (EU Total)

• Peaked in 2014 at 42,066,000.

• Down to 6,368,000 in 2023 — a drop of 85%.

• Major reductions due to legislation banning fur farming, collapsing auction prices for pelts and COVID-19-related culling (esp. Denmark).

Countries with Production Ceasing

• Germany, France, Netherlands, Sweden (briefly), Ireland, Italy, Estonia: All show 0 production from 2021/2022 onward.

• Reflects regulatory bans or industry collapse.

Exceptions / Growth Trends

• Russia: Though fluctuating, shows a resurgence in 2023 to 1,046,000.

• Ukraine & Belarus: Moderate stability, with Ukraine rebounding in 2021 before dropping again.

• Bulgaria: Emerged after 2015; peaked at 150,000 in 2021.