Expectation of Pig Price Increase Heating Up

Official pig price quotes remain around the €1.70c/kg mark, but the level of expectation among pig producers for a price rise is heating up.

The German pig price increased again last week, and now stands at €1.80c/kg –  a realistic target for where Irish pig prices should be, according to IFA Pigs Chairman, Tom Hogan.

Commenting on the stagnant Irish prices over the past few weeks, in the light of significant and consecutive increases across the main European pig producers, Hogan said he was disappointed, but not surprised. He said, processors are actively looking to maintain every current supplier of pigs, and also trying to establish where and who they can approach to maintain their supply when pig numbers become tighter in the weeks ahead. Hogan once again called on the processing industry to increase pig prices this week and he called on pig farmers to bargain hard for this justified and overdue price rise.

Ireland’s percentage of the EU price has improved and is currently 95% of the EU average price as reported to the EU Commission for the week commencing 08/05/2017.

Factory pig throughput in Republic of Ireland export plants for the week ending May 13th 2017 was 64,234 head which was 10,690 head more than the previous week and 84 more than in the corresponding week in 2016. Slaughtering’s in ROI export plants is -1.5% behind the same period in 2016.

Export Plants: Top prices on a flat rate basis </= 170cent/kg in Karro, Staunton’s and Dawn, </=168 cent/kg in Kepak and Rosderra.

Pork Slaughters: The price range is </=160 cent/kg.

Sows: 95 – 100c/kg DW.

Weekly Slaughtering’s: Week-ending 13/05/2017 Pigs: 64,234 Sows: 1,863

EU-27 PIGMEAT REFERENCE PRICE WK COMMENCING 08/05/17

Irish price €1.65kg

EU–27 average price €1.73kg

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