Traffic Lights

CLICK HERE TO REFRESH PAGE
Traffic Lights
February 2 base price
Although DAPP dropped 1.02p to 142.31p Tulip has sounded a positive note by standing-on. With more interest in fewer spot pigs base price rises to 132p+.
For Thursday night's Traffic Lights base, follow on Twitter, or if you're a pig-keeper sign up for the free Traffic Lights text service.
Follow @TLspot
How to get Traffic Lights texts
If you wish to receive the Traffic Lights base-price by text, please email Traffic Lights coordinator. We need to know: your name and postcode; very briefly, how you market your pigs; your mobile phone number. The information you send is seen only by the Traffic Lights co-ordinator. Joining the Traffic Lights texting list may mean you also occasionally receive a text reminder of upcoming NPA regional meetings.
Prices
2012		Traffic	DAPP	EU Ref
Feb 2		132	142.31
Jan 26		130	143.35
Jan 19		132	145.42	124.54
Jan 12		136	145.67	127.72
Jan 5		140	147.85	130.61

Traffic Lights and Shouts history
Shouts
2012	Tulip	Crans	Wood	Vion
Feb 3	136	135	138	135
Jan 27	136	135	138	135
Jan 20	138	135	140	136
Jan 13	140	137	142	138
Jan 6	141	139	143	140

Meadow Quality
Calm before the storm? February 3 2012. It was a relatively slow trading day with prices finally levelling out in most sectors. As usual, the "pig train" has to stop before it can begin moving in the other direction and indeed, one particularly hard spot buyer found they had already hit the buffers and was forced to add an extra 2p/kg to their low base quote. Slightly more interest from other spot buyers failed to result in further gains elsewhere, but it demonstrated the market is closer to balance than it has been for several weeks. Cranswick's' decision to stand-on the previous Friday proved very helpful and its action was closely followed this week by Tulip, Morrisons et al and the stage was set for a quieter day, with only DAPP related contracts slipping back. Further afield, there was useful evidence of firming European prices and cull sow quotes recorded a 1–2 p/kg uplift as buyers struggled to find required volumes. Finished pig sale numbers have been estimated at 13 percent higher during January this year compared to 2011, partly helped by easier growing conditions, but also earlier concerns that the Christmas pull forward hadn't been quite so strong this time look to be justified. The higher slaughter weights in the DAPP sample currently is a strong indicator that some producers took a gamble on stronger demand continuing which the winter weather has favoured over the previous two years, and chose to keep finished weights up. The recent milder weather has done little to boost consumption and the market place has been over-supplied as a consequence. That said, with the weather gauge showing minus 9 degrees Celsius last night, and forecasts for two to four inches of snow over large parts of the United Kingdom in the coming days, winter is certainly not over yet. More sizzling, juicy pork chops anyone?
Thames Valley Cambac
January 30 2012 "Glad to be rid of January" was one quote from an exasperated processor. It summed up another disappointing day with trade very difficult on all fronts. All contract quotes were lower with the exception of Cranswick who stood on at 135p. Woodhead -2p (138p), Gill -1p (138p), Tulip -2p (136p) and Vion -1p (135p). Spot bacon trade was easier with quotes in the range 130p to 133p. Retail demand showed no improvement and supply was ample thanks, in part, to very good recent growth rates. The fresh meat sector faired no better with most prices back a penny or two. A bright spot of the day was the cull sow trade recouping the losses of the previous week due to improved European prices and good competition among the exporters. Holland and Germany led the European revival and this overall improvement in continental prices should stem the flow of cheap imports into the UK. The Euro increased in sterling terms by 0.30p ending the week at 83.69p >>>
Links
Market Intelligence >>>
Liffe wheat futures >>>
Soya futures >>>
Old Traffic Lights prices >>>

Traffic

Shouts

Traffic Lights commentary

BY PETER CRICHTON (Updated Friday nights)

This cold weather will warm up the market

February 3, 2012

Although DAPP dropped a further 1.04p to stand at 142.31p, Cranswick probably set the trend last week by leaving its shout price unchanged and this cue was followed by Tulip, leading to all the other shout prices remaining unchanged.

The déjà-vu league table now reads as follows:

1 — Woodhead, Gill 138p.
3 — Tulip 136p.
Last — Vion, Cranswick, 135p.

There was a little more life in the spot market, although most of the large processors are still complaining that retail demand remains lacklustre and it may be a few more weeks before we see any significant upward movement in pigmeat prices.

European markets were also reported to have held at similar levels and spot bacon was generally traded between 130p–135p according to spec.

If the cold snap continues growth rates will slow up and retail demand will improve, which could soon turn a very slight surplus into a significant shortage and reverse the supply/demand formula at a stroke.

Cull sow quotes also benefitted from strong competition between the three main export abattoirs as well as a slightly more positive outlook in the European market and as a result export abattoirs were tendering bids of 2p–4p more than last week with prices of 113p–115p readily available.

The relative stability of the euro which traded on Friday worth 83.06p has also helped inject a little more stability into the cull sow sector and it is worth remembering that this time a year ago there were only two main outlets for cull sows compared with four today which were trading at 90p/kg, so it is not all doom and gloom.

The weaner market has remained remarkably firm, more due to a shortage of numbers than any particular confidence in finished pig prices in the weeks ahead with the latest Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board 30kg ex-farm weaner average quoted at £44.59/head, but useful premiums still available for spot weaners where some buyers seem to be short of numbers and need extra pigs to meet finished pig contract commitments.

Grain prices are however continuing their steady climb with ex-farm feed wheat now quoted at £162/tonne up from £155/tonne a week ago and futures prices are at their highest level since last September with March and May wheat quoted at £165/tonne, which is putting producers' margins under pressure.

l Mechanical data l NPA Trade Directory l National Pig Association l
Pig World , PO Box 100, Benniworth, Market Rasen LN8 6LE, United Kingdom