The share of pork retail prices received by producers reached its highest level since July 2014 in April, climbing by more than 1% to reach 41.8%.
Average farm gate prices rose by over 4p/kg on the month, with the EU-spec Standard Pig Price (SPP) topping 158.45p/kg in the week ending May 13. This was 43p higher than the same week in 2016 and the highest level since August 2014.
Meanwhile, the average retail price decreased slightly and, as a result, the current producers’ share is nearly 11 percentage points up on the same point in 2016.
Little movement was recorded in retail pork prices in April for boneless leg, fillet of pork and loin chops. Traditional pork sausages recorded a price increase of 2% compared to March, while boneless shoulder, diced pork and minced pork prices all increased by 1%. However, fillet end leg and loin steak prices both fell 1% on the month.
Compared to April 2016, price movements amongst the different cuts were more diverse. Fillet end leg recorded the largest rise of 6%, while loin chop prices rose by 4% compared to the same period in 2016.
Boneless leg and diced pork values recorded more modest increases of 2% and 1% respectively, while boneless shoulder and fillet of pork prices both remained unchanged year on year. But hand loin steaks were 7% cheaper than April 2016, while the value of traditional pork sausages and minced pork fell by 3% and 1% respectively.
