Pig prices are stable on quotes of €1.74/kg to €1.76/kg with most deals being done at €1.76/kg. Producers are optimistic that prices will lift at the end of this month and start of September when demand tends to pick up seasonally.

Supply

IFA pigs chair Tom Hogan said that supplies of factory-ready pigs are relatively tight across the EU, as well as in Ireland.

“Indicative German pig prices have increased by 10c/kg over the past 10 days.”

Pig producers are also watching feed prices. In the USA, maize futures for December delivery fell this week to $3.93 a bushel (€137.9/t) on the Chicago Board of Trade.

This followed new estimates of 2019 maize crop area showing an unexpected rise of 1% on 2018.