Department of Agriculture figures show that pig prices have continued to increase and have moved on by 4c/kg in the month of July. The price rise is attributed to demand from all processors which is forcing the trade to continue its slow upward trend.

Pig farmers report prices of €1.72 up to €1.76c/kg this week. Strong demand from processors for the last few loads of pigs to fill their weekly demand resulted in stronger prices for some loads and prices up to €1.80c/kg have been reported.

The outlook for the pig market has improved as a result of the recent EU-Japanese trade agreement which will see all EU pigment imports, including Irish pigmeat, into Japan attract reduced tariffs from 2018 onwards.

In the Republic, factory pig throughput stood at 58,886 heads, 652 down on the previous week and 1,859 less than in the corresponding week last year.

Slaughterings in the Republic’s export plants is -0.9% behind the same period in 2016.