Pig market: 14/08/2017

Prices reported to IFA

Comment: Quotes from main export pig processing plants have settled this week in the range of €1.65/kg to €1.70c/kg. Last week’s short working week resulted in a reduced kill of 52,400, but procurement managers are much more anxious to secure their weekly kill this week. Chair of the IFA pigs committee Tom Hogan said that the Irish pig price has settled, with most farmers receiving €1.66 and upwards this week. He said that it was disappointing that prices had reduced in recent weeks by 8c/kg, following the European trend, but said that Irish factories will have to follow European trends upwards when they rise. The trade for pigs has stabilised across the EU, with demand increasing in the run-up to the new school year. The main European pig-producing countries are paying farmers around €1.70c/kg, with the UK 10c/kg above this level.