Producers’ share of retail pork prices stays on 40%

Pig producers received 40% of the retail pork price in October, similar to their share in the previous two months, according to BPEX.

While noting that pig prices and retail prices both declined in October, BPEX said the underlying month-on-month change between the two was relatively small.  In annual terms, however, producers’ share of the final price was 3% lower in October 2014, compared with the same month last year.

In looking at how different parts of the retail market behaved in October this year, BPEX said the marginal month-on-month fall in retail pork prices was mainly driven by a 7% decline for loin steaks and a 1% drop for minced pork.  In contrast, prices for traditional pork sausages, fillet end leg and pork fillet, increased slightly with retail prices for the other cuts remaining almost unchanged compared with September.

“Annual comparisons, however, highlight sharp declines across most cuts,” said BPEX. “Traditional pork sausage prices were down by 9% and boneless leg prices by 8% on a year earlier. 

“Price falls were recorded for the higher value cuts as well, including loin steaks (down 7%) and fillet of pork (down 6%). The only cut to record an increase was loin chops, where the average retail price was higher by 16% compared with October 2013.”