Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain.
The EU-spec SPP dropped back again, losing a further 0.32p to stand at 203.66p/kg, during the week ended October 25.
After recording its biggest weekly fall in just over two years last week, the price index has lost 3p over the past five weeks and more than 4.3p over the past nine weeks. It is now at its lowest point since early March and 3.5p below where it stood a year ago.
The domestic pig price has been falling against the backdrop of plummeting EU prices. The latest Tribune EU price round-up showed only Spain recorded a significant reversal last week.
The bigger picture, however, remains one of a significantly widening headline gap between UK and EU prices, following a further 5p fall the EU reference price (Grade S) to 157.4p/kg during the week ended October 19, leaving it – once again after this threshold was breached earlier in the year – more than 50p behind the equivalent UK price.
AHDB’s latest estimated GB slaughterings for the week ended October 25 were down by 3,500 head on the week to 156,596 head, which was 9,500 head down on 2024 and 7,000 head down the same week in 2023. As always, these estimates are potentially subject to further revision.
Average carcase weights eased slightly, losing 0.27kg to stand at a still substantial 93.13kg in the SPP sample, after rising for six successive weeks, partly due to pigs being rolled as a result of factory issues. Average weights are now 1.5kg above year-earlier levels.
London feed wheat futures were quoted by AHDB on October 29 at £161/t for November, £2 down on last week, and £169/t for January, £3 up on last week.