Pig market: 25/09/2017

Prices reported to IFA

Comment: Chair of the IFA pigs committee Tom Hogan said the Irish pig price remained relatively stable once again this week. Quotes from processors remain settled in the range of €1.70/kg to €1.74c/kg, with the majority of the main export plants quoting €1.72c/kg. The recorded national kill remains strong at 65,200, which is being driven by increased efficiency at farm level and a greater number of pigs produced per sow, with the national sow herd remaining static. The domestic pork and bacon market remains positive, but Bord Bia reports that the Chinese export market is behind the volumes imported from the EU on a year-to-year basis. Tom Hogan also stated that a prolonged period of stability and above breakeven pig prices were required to maintain a viable pig production sector in Ireland and he called on all pig processors to play their part to ensure that the pig price remains in positive territory.