Pig Market ReportsPigs

European Pig Prices Rise with Demand but Irish Price Static

Another good week on the European pig price front with further increases across Germany, Denmark, Spain and Holland.

The seasonal drop in the number of pigs being presented for slaughter is increasing processor demand at long last. The increase in temperatures across mainland Europe last week has increased consumer demand for barbecue cuts, with pork benefiting to a high degree from this increased demand and consumption.

The Irish price remains unchanged at an average of €1.40c/kg but the positive trends on the continent auger well and Irish pig farmers continue to hope for a much-needed price rise towards the break-even figure of €1.50c/kg.

While the weather was great across Ireland for the June bank holiday weekend, the only negative is the bank holiday means one day less slaughtering, which takes pressure and competition off procurement managers to fill this and next weeks’ books.

Ireland’s percentage of the EU price has improved and is currently 98% of the EU average price as reported to the EU Commission for the week commencing 21/05/2018.

Factory pig throughput in Republic of Ireland export plants for the week ending May 26th 2018 was 66,570 head which was 568 head less than the previous week and 4,447 more than in the corresponding week in 2017.

Export Plants: Top prices on a flat rate basis </= €1.40c/kg in Kepak, Rosderra, and Stauntons and </= €1.42/ €1.44c/kg in Dawn Pork and Bacon and Cookstown.

Sows: 60c/kg DW.

Weekly Slaughterings: Week-ending 26/05/2018 Pigs: 66,570 Sows: 2,112

EU-27 PIGMEAT REFERENCE PRICE WK COMMENCING 21/05/18

Irish price €1.40kg

EU–27 average price €1.43kg

(Grade E pigs – 55% to 60% lean meat excluding VAT but including transport and bonuses).

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