Record increase for standard pig prices
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has reported the largest weekly rise in the standard pig price (SPP) series since records began in 2014.
In the week ending 26th March, the EU-spec standard pig price (SPP) gained 5.28p to average 146.99p/kg. This also marks the fifth consecutive week of price rises.
The National Pig Association (NPA) pointed out that the figure is up 6.4 up on a year ago, but still more than a penny down on the five-year average.
‘A long way off’
Commenting on the rise in prices, NPA said: “While the record increase in the SPP is welcome, it still leaves producers a long way short of where they need to be, with costs of production in excess of £2/kg. The NPA has written to all the retailers asking for them to raise prices beyond £2/kg, but, generally, is still waiting for the response required.”
The processor increases appeared to stall on Friday. After increasing its processor price by a massive 30p to 180p/kg on March 18th, Morrisons-Woodheads was up another 5p to 185p/kg. However, Peter Crichton of the NPA said that the other major retailers have generally remained at last week’s levels, between 158p and 160p.
According to NPA, pig prices have continued to soar in Europe, notably in Germany, as supplies of available pigs fall. The EU reference price has gone up from 110p in early February to 147.6p/kg in the week ending 20th March.
After successive hikes of 14p and 13p, it is now above the UK reference price. A few weeks ago, the gap was more than 30p.
Processing update
Slaughter of clean pigs at GB abattoirs was estimated to be 192,300 head, down 1.8% from numbers during the previous week, and 3% below numbers during the same week a year ago.
For a fifth consecutive week, average carcase weights continued to decrease, averaging 93.75kg in the week ending 26th March. This was 420g lighter compared to the week before.
Princess Royal opens Dunbia Highland Meats plant following £12m upgrade
NFU Scotland says government and retailers must “wake up” to food security crisis
