Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. July 2025
    2. June 2025
    3. 2025 Innovation supplement
    4. May 2025
    5. April 2025
    6. March 2025
    7. 2025 Buildings supplement
    8. February 2025
    9. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    10. January 2025
    11. December 2024
    12. November 2024
    13. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    14. October 2024
    15. September 2024
    16. August 2024
    17. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    18. July 2024
    19. June 2024
    20. 2024 Innovation supplement
    21. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    22. May 2024
    23. April 2024
    24. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    25. March 2024
    26. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    27. February 2024
    28. January 2024
    29. December 2023
    30. November 2023
    31. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    32. October 2023
    33. September 2023
    34. Health Supplement
    Featured

    July 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    July 6, 2025
    Recent

    July 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    July 6, 2025

    June 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    June 4, 2025

    2025 Innovation supplement now available

    June 4, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Comment

Life between the exit signs

Peter CrichtonBy Peter CrichtonAugust 24, 20183 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

The SPP has moved back slightly dropping by 0.16p to 149.1p and after three weeks of successive rises by 16 euro cents, the German market has paused for breath where prices have remained at stand on levels.

UK weekly contribution and spot prices have also remained at generally similar levels with spot bacon quoted in the 146p-152p range and weekly contribution prices in the 134p-142p region.

Cull sow quotes have however continued on their upward track adding another 3p today with prices heading towards the 80p level for large loads and a welcome improvement on the miserable 62p which was being paid in May.

An improvement in the value of the Euro has also helped as far as the pig meat import/export balance is concerned with the Euro trading on Friday worth 90.15p compared with 89.6p a week ago.

Weaner prices are however still under pressure with the latest AHDB 30kg average slipping by 87p to £51.92/head although 7kg average actually went up by £1.10 to £38.51.

There is still a shortage of buyers for Red Tractor weaners in particular which are extremely hard to place and some breeders may have no option but to finish the pigs themselves rather than virtually giving them away on the spot market although in the buyers defence, the cost of feed and straw has hit a big hole in their margins too.

Grain prices have been less volatile this week and for the time being to the relief of pig producers have actually stopped going up with ex farm spot UK feed wheat quoted at £174.10 and London futures saw November wheat traded at £181.75/t and March 2019 at £186.25/t.

For those likely to live long enough, a glance ahead to November 2020 is indicating slightly more moderate prices with wheat quoted at £164.35/t – well worth considering.

Soya prices have hardened with 48% soya ex Liverpool £3 dearer at £347/t and 38% rape meal up by £7/t to £233/t.

And finally, as the Brexit exit date draws nearer the NPA have expressed their concerns over the potential damage that could be caused to the UK pig sector as far as exports to the EU are concerned.

The main stumbling block which could hit annual UK pork exports of around 157,000 tonnes may arise as exports to the EU from the UK will be treated as a third country and exporters would have to comply with new export codes and procedures with reams of red tape which may well appear.

Existing supply chains and contracts would have to be re-written but there could be some benefits if the pound remains weak and a strong Euro prevails.

More questions than answers but with Brexit now not much more than 6 months away the UK pig industry needs to find some answers now as to which of the three options will apply, hard Brexit, soft Brexit or no deal.

Lastly, African Swine Fever remains a huge talking point in China following three outbreaks three and exporters will be watching this market extremely carefully in case any opportunities arise to step up exports from non ASF countries to meet any gaps that appear in the pig meat supply chain in China.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleOrganic food exports at mercy of EU discretion after no-deal Brexit
Next Article Aldi partners with Tulip as consumer demand for fresh Scottish pork rises
Peter Crichton

Read Similar Stories

Comment: British pork reimagined: Data-led marketing for a changing consumer

July 9, 2025

Comment: Market recovery, export growth and on-farm innovation

July 7, 2025

Comment: Encouraging signs as big pig issues discussed in parliament

July 4, 2025
Latest News

GB pig prices for week ending July 5, 2025 – SPP bounces back to reach year high

July 9, 2025

Nutrient Action Programme could destroy NI pig sector, UFU warns

July 9, 2025

Comment: British pork reimagined: Data-led marketing for a changing consumer

July 9, 2025
Sponsored Content

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024

Tackle the root cause of PWD with free diagnostic tests

March 1, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1759 North Yorkshire

    • North Yorkshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1758 Norfolk

    • Norfolk
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Experienced Pig Stockperson – Ref 1757 South East England

    • South East England
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Weekly Tribune
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.