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
    • 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. June 2025
    2. 2025 Innovation supplement
    3. May 2025
    4. April 2025
    5. March 2025
    6. 2025 Buildings supplement
    7. February 2025
    8. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    9. January 2025
    10. December 2024
    11. November 2024
    12. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    13. October 2024
    14. September 2024
    15. August 2024
    16. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    17. July 2024
    18. June 2024
    19. 2024 Innovation supplement
    20. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    21. May 2024
    22. April 2024
    23. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    24. March 2024
    25. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    26. February 2024
    27. January 2024
    28. December 2023
    29. November 2023
    30. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    31. October 2023
    32. September 2023
    33. Health Supplement
    Featured

    June 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    June 4, 2025
    Recent

    June 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    June 4, 2025

    2025 Innovation supplement now available

    June 4, 2025

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Comment

China in Your Hand?

Peter CrichtonBy Peter CrichtonJanuary 25, 20193 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Another difficult day as far as the UK pig industry is concerned with prices still in retreat on this side of the Channel although the influential German producer price stood on for the 18th week running, but at a miserly low level equivalent to 118p in our money.

The SPP continues to head south and dropped by another 0.71p this week to stand (or possibly lie down) at 138.78p compared with 148.25p a year ago, when a tonne of wheat only cost £135 compared with around £170 today.

Weekly contribution prices have also remained in retreat, with falls mainly between 1p-3p.but an even colder wind is blowing through the spot market at present with very little demand hitting prices hard and virtually no space for “rolled” pigs remains available, with the result that spot quotes of less than 130p were reported and weights keep going up.

Despite all the Brexit uncertainty, for some reason that is hard to fathom the pound has continued to gain in strength which has hit the value of the euro trading on Friday worth 86.73p compared with 88.12p 7 days ago.

As a result, despite German prices holding steady cull sow quotes came back another penny due to the weaker Euro with cull sows now only worth a stingy 55-58p. This means for anyone tempted to head for the exit (not Brexit) door and leave the industry, an average cull sow is worth little more than £70 per head.

Although there were reported to be one or two more buyers tentatively looking for spot weaners despite the gloomy outlook for finished pig prices, quotes being tendered were very low and far behind COP levels. The latest AHDB average prices which mainly comprise pigs sold on contract, saw the 30kg average drop £3.68 to £43.91 and the 7kg price also fell by £1.40 to £35.56.

Unfortunately weaner finishing is rather like horse racing, something of a gamble but a lot less fun.

Feed prices are holding at generally static levels but wheat is still £40 a tonne more than it was worth a year ago with London wheat traded at £171.10/t, July at £174.15/t and the only glimmer of sunlight relates to longer months with November ‘19 quoted at £154.90/t and November ’20 £155.25/t. Ex-farm UK spot wheat trades are averaging £167.20/t.

UK protein prices have however eased a touch with 48% soya quoted ex Liverpool at £310/t and 34% rape meal ex Kent at £206/t although strong export demand has caused a lift in feed bean prices and could soon filter through to the soya and rape seed markets.

And finally despite all the doom and gloom surrounding the pig industry it is good to read reports that during November 2018 UK exports of fresh/frozen pork continued to improve and were up 5% on the year, reaching a total of 19,500 tonnes.

Exports to China continue to lead the way and are quoted to be up by 81% over the 12 month period and with reports that African Swine Fever is still far from under control this could result in more export business being done in the land of sweet and sour pork but not if we are unlucky enough to catch ASF in the UK, although it is refreshing to know that the media have picked up on the potential ASF risk and well done to the NPA and Zoe for getting airtime on a recent Country File programme to highlight this.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous Article‘Concern’ over threat of wild boar spread of ASF into France
Next Article Meat remains popular with shoppers, although mix of product changes
Peter Crichton

Read Similar Stories

Vet View: Importance of iron and vitamin D for pigs and for me

June 9, 2025

Vet View: Step back and look at your unit with external eyes

May 7, 2025

Comment: Pigs Tomorrow – shaping the future of the pig industry

May 5, 2025
Latest News

Industry’s needs will be taken into account in farrowing reforms – Zeichner

June 17, 2025

Eurostar passengers encouraged to purchase pork products before boarding – report

June 17, 2025

Pig industry veteran Hugh Crabtree awarded MBE

June 16, 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
  • Farrowing Manager

    • Suffolk
    • Blythburgh Pigs
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1752 Somerset

    • Somerset
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Piggery Stockpersons – Ref 1751 Western Australia

    • Western Australia
    • 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
  • 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.