Prices for pigs across the EU have remained steady in weeks AHDB lead analyst Duncan Wyatt has reported. Reports of high levels of pork in store, with no end in sight for export restrictions, could indicate that further lower prices are still on the cards.
Prices in Belgium continue to trade at a significant discount to the average, although this could see a rise in the near future as the country has now been declared free of African Swine Fever.
Reports from both Denmark and Germany are still of significant numbers of rolled pigs due to COVID-19 curtailing slaughter as well as German pork exports still being unable to access a number of markets, including China.
Mr Wyatt also said that whilst market reports suggest slaughter numbers have been rising across the EU, marketing pigs is still proving difficult, with ongoing widespread disruption to foodservice outlets. However, he added that demand from China is said to be good at the moment, and is underpinning slaughter somewhat for those exporters that still have access, such as in Spain.
Mr Wyatt added: “There was little sign of an impending slowdown in German production in November census data. Supplies of slaughter pigs are likely to be plentiful for some months to come. More generally, low pig prices across the continent, due to an abundance of available product will continue to weigh on prices here.
