Scottish prime pigmeat prices are nearly 17% lower than this time last year, however they are maintaining their premium over European prices, according to Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).
Stuart Ashworth, QMS head of economics services said: “Some of the price pressure that we are seeing at the moment will be due to an increase in UK production. Over the first half of the year prime pig slaughterings have increased by almost 4% and prime pork production has increase by 5%.”
However, it is not just Scottish pig producers who are experiencing lower prices. This year on year decline in farm gate prices is also apparent across Europe.
“Danish pig farmers are receiving prices 11% lower than last year, Germany and Poland are seeing prices 15% lower and Spain and the Netherlands 18% lower. It is little consolation for Scottish producers that when converted to Euros their price is only 6% lower,” said Ashworth.
“In terms of European market this leaves UK producer prices almost 25% higher than the European average when quoted in Euro.”
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
