EU pig producers are frustrated that prices have not yet started to rise again, despite supplies tightening and exports remaining positive, says Irish pig sector leader, Pat O’Flaherty.
Noting that pig prices in the majority of EU countries have been “stable for the last number of weeks”, Mr O’Flaherty said that the initial industry view that stability was a positive, after a period of falling prices, had shifted to widespread frustration over what had now become “stagnant prices”.
Speaking in his capacity as chairman of the Irish Farmers’ Association pigs committee, he said that Irish retail data from Kantar for the quarter ending October 10Â showed some “real positivity” for pig products, suggesting that it was time for EU prices to do the same.
“On the home market (Ireland), which accounts for 50% of Irish sales, the most recent Kantar quarterly data shows retail pork purchases are up by 2% in volume and 2% in price,” said Mr O’Flaherty. “Bacon volume was also up 3% with an unchanged average price.”
The Irish price this week is equivalent to 82% of the UK price and 108% of the EU average.Â