Pig Prices – Market Indicators Suggest Push for Significant Price Increase

Quotes from the main processors remain in the range of €1.68/kg- €1.70c/kg again this week. Reports from pig farmers around the country indicate that the majority of pigs are moving at prices of €1.70c/kg plus, into export plants.

Deals up to €1.74c/kg were reported as being paid for spot loads and lighter pigs with the domestic market demand remaining strong.

Chairman of the IFA Pigs committee, Tom Hogan, said the Irish pig price remained relatively stable once again this week, but he was optimistic about the future trends. The recent bank holiday weeks and forthcoming May bank holiday have all taken some of the pressure off procurement managers to fill their kill, but highlights the competition for pigs that exists on the ground.

Looking at all market indicators, including our biggest export market in the UK, Irish pig farmers should be pushing for a significant price increase in the coming weeks.

Ireland’s percentage of the EU price has improved and is currently 97% of the EU average price as reported to the EU Commission for the week commencing 10/04/2017.

Factory pig throughput in Republic of Ireland export plants for the week ending Apr 15th 2017 was 63,458 head which was 417 head less than the previous week and 449 less than in the corresponding week in 2016. Slaughterings in ROI export plants is -0.8% 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 Slaughterings: Week-ending 15/04/2017 Pigs: 63,458 Sows: 1,812

EU-27 PIGMEAT REFERENCE PRICE WK COMMENCING 10/04/17

Irish price €1.65kg

EU–27 average price €1.70kg

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

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