There was no change in Irish pig prices on Friday last, with producers reporting a broad spread of prices across the Republic of Ireland. Those operating under the graded pricing system have reported slightly higher prices for certain pig weight categories, though the average price for pigs processed this week remains between €1.74/kg and €1.78/kg. Pig farmers who are selling their pigs to the North are on higher prices than quoted above and the same is the case for farmers selling pigs on the grading pricing structure in the South.
The weekly throughput as reported by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine for week ending the 26th of April is 71,468 of which 2,099 were sows. The average price for grade E pig carcasses in week 16 was €1.68/kg (excluding VAT), reporting an increase of 0.6% compared with last week’s average price, however, when compared to the previous month prices have risen 1.1%, however, prices still trail 16.7% below the same period last year.
According to the latest reports from Agritel, feed and fuel prices remain unstable and are likely to increase due to the current geopolitical pressures in the Middle East. For pig farmers this puts pressure on the current market as many costs are continuing to put farmers under pressure while little significant price rises have been introduced to support these increases.
