Pig prices remain unchanged this week due to strong domestic and UK demand.

However, sow prices continue to be weak, as low as 50c/kg, due to continuing COVID-19 disruption across the EU pigmeat sector.

German prices for all pigs have fallen by 19c/kg over the last fortnight, with prices also falling in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Slaughtering has similarly now been curtailed at smaller plants in France, Austria and the Netherlands

Germany’s Tönnies plant in Rheda-Wiedenbrück – closed due to a cluster of coronavirus among staff – is not expected to reopen before the middle of this month. This has reduced slaughter capacity in Germany by up to 100,000 pigs per week.

Authorities are investigating if ventilation/air conditioning systems had a role in spreading the virus among staff.

Slaughtering has similarly now been curtailed at smaller plants in France, Austria and the Netherlands. Movement of young pigs from Denmark to Germany for finishing is also disrupted.

Adding to these problems, in recent days China delisted three Dutch export plants, concerned about possible re-entrance of the virus into China on packaging.