Pig prices increased last week by 4c to average 184c/kg and are generally expected to remain at that level for this week.

Producers are hopeful of a further price rise towards the end of the month, particularly if there are any increases in prices on the continent – especially in Germany, Europe’s dominant producer. Irish prices here have tracked German prices in recent months.

Prices continue to be boosted by the high demand from China, where production has been severely reduced by culling of herds due to African swine fever (ASF).

Producer attention is now switching towards the end of the year when prices often dip.

Pig farmers here expect that the exceptional demand from China will result in stable prices here right through December

This can happen as consumption in Spain and southern Europe dips at the end of the tourist season, putting additional pigmeat on other EU markets. Spain is the EU’s second largest producer.

However, pig farmers here expect that the exceptional demand from China will result in stable prices here right through December.

Swine fever outbreaks

New cases of ASF continue to emerge in China, albeit at lower levels than 12 months ago. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation, monthly new outbreaks peaked in October 2018 at 33.

Since the first outbreak in August of 2018 over 1.1m pigs have been culled in China

This year monthly new outbreaks have ranged from four to 10, with three in September.

While the peak of disease spread has passed, further new cases mean that culling continues and recovery in production remains delayed.

Since the first outbreak in August of 2018 over 1.1m pigs have been culled in China.

In addition, the disease continues to spread to other countries in Asia. Cases have now been reported in nine other countries, the latest two being in South Korea and Timor-Leste, both last month. In addition, Russia has reported a first case in a region which borders China.