All pig farmers expected at least another 4c/kg price rise to be announced last Friday, but it never happened. It was only natural to expect the Irish price to improve, following the massive upward pig price increases across comparable pig markets in Europe. The Spanish market continues to improve with a price of €1.83/kg this week. Even though many other European countries were coming from a low base pig price due to the combined pressures of Covid and access to China, Irish processors didn’t suffer these issues to the same extent in recent months. Our domestic market has enjoyed greater retailer demand on the back of foodservice closures, and reduced levels of imported pigmeat into the country as a result of this shift in consumer markets. The all-important Chinese market has been very steady and increases in future tender prices are inevitable. This underlying demand, both at home and from international markets will see the Irish pig price rise from its current levels of €1.58-€1.60/kg, which is only just covering the cost of production on the most efficient farms.
Ireland’s percentage of the EU price has improved and is currently 103% of the EU average price as reported to the EU Commission for the week commencing 14/3/2021.
Factory pig throughput in Republic of Ireland export plants for the week ending 21st March 2021 was 53.238 head which was 21,566 less than the previous week and 6,070 less than in the corresponding week in 2020.
Export Plants
Top prices on a flat rate basis </= €1.57/kg-€1.59c/kg in Rosderra and Kepak </= €1.56/kg-€1.60c/kg in Staunton’s, >/= €1.58/kg-€1.60c/kg in Dawn Pork & Bacon and </=€1.60/kg – €1.62/kg in Karro (Cookstown).
Sows
€0.87-€1.00/kg DW.
Weekly Slaughtering’s Week-ending 21/3/21
Pigs: 51,745
Sows: 1,493
EU-27 Pigmeat Reference Price Wk Commencing 14/3/21
Irish price: €1.55kg
EU–27 average price: €1.50kg
(Grade E pigs – 55% to 60% lean meat excluding VAT but including transport and bonuses).
