Pig Market ReportsPigs

Pig Price Report 9th January

No price change with €1.38- €1.42/kg remaining the run of pig price received over the past 3 weeks. It is with some relief that pig farmers bid farewell to 2018, a year of low and stagnant pig prices, rising feed bills and increases in overall costs. After a full review, it is clear that pig farmers produced every kilo of pigmeat at a loss of 10cent on average for 2018.  Simply put, this will not continue in 2019, as increasing numbers of pig farmers are finding their credit terms stretched to beyond capacity. There is optimism that the Asian import market, China in particular will drive demand, but pig farmers need a price rise sooner rather than later. Th ongoing dispute between the Veterinary Union and the DAFM has caused a number of delays to the kill, further compounding the backup of pigs on farms, caused by the Christmas break. 

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 24/12/2018.

Factory pig throughput in Republic of Ireland export plants for the week ending December 29th 2018 was 15,686 head which was 44,659 head less than the previous week and 5,496 less than in the corresponding week in 2017.

Export Plants:

Top prices on a flat rate basis </= €1.42/kg in Staunton’s, Dawn Pork & Bacon and Cookstown, >/= €1.38/kg in Rosderra and Kepak.

Sows:   50c/kg DW.

Weekly Slaughterings:  Week-ending 29/12/2018 Pigs: 15,237 Sows: 449

EU-27 PIGMEAT REFERENCE PRICE WK COMMENCING 24/12/18

Irish price                                            €1.39kg

EU–27 average price                         €1.35kg

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

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