The EU-spec standard pig price has gained 0.38p to stand at 209.88p/kg during the week ended July 13, regaining some of the 0.91p lost the previous week, the National Pig Association (NPA) has said.
The trade association for UK pig farmers said a pattern has emerged over the past six weeks where a drop (0.62-1.23p) is followed by a smaller increase (0.38-0.47p).
It means the standard pig price (SPP) has lost 1.5p since the beginning of June and 3p since the start of the year.
It is now 15p below a year ago when the price index was nearing its peak.
The all pig price (APP), which includes premium pigs, has been much more volatile than the SPP this year, but it has stabilised over the past three weeks, the NPA said.
“It gained another 0.23p during the week ended July 6 to stand at 212.88p/kg, after gains of 0.1p and 0.13p over the previous two weeks. This put it 3.38p ahead of the SPP for the week.”
The European reference price (grade E) fell by 3p during the week ended July 7 to stand at 184.26p/kg, expanding the gap to the equivalent UK reference price to 25p.
The NPA said this was mainly on the back of a 5p reduction in Germany and smaller drops elsewhere. EU prices largely stabilised last week, however.
Slaughterings and carcase weights
Estimated GB slaughterings for the week ended July 6 were up by 9,600 on the previous week to 160,842 head, which was 9,000 up on 2023 but 34,000 below 2022.
However, the the estimate for the week ended July 13 declined signifcantly to 146,812 head, just 2000 below the 2023 figure but 34,000 below the same week in 2022.
Average carcase weights increased by 0.54p to 90.8kg in the SPP sample during the week ended July 13, 2.3kg higher than the same week in 2023.
London feed wheat futures was quoted by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) on July 17 at £191.65/t for November 2024, £5 down on the week.
