Another week of disruption across the majority of the processing sector has been reported by Thames Valley Cambac.
“Reduced kills in many places as a result of the well documented staff shortages was compounded by a number of factory breakdowns which meant we are backed up further going in to this week than we were when we completed the week before,” TVC said in its latest weekly update.
Issues are beginning with stocking levels on farms and unfortunately there looks to be little respite from this over the coming weeks which will create significant challenges on farms. From an actual trade perspective demand from retail we are told is reasonably good although year-on-year sales are down, which is not surprising as we were in full lockdown this time last year so virtually no food service to detract from retail sales.
TVC said: “But year on two years ago retail is up. Export appears to be a problem, from an ability to process, back to staff shortages and, from a price perspective, the delivered price China is considerably lower than it was and with our pig price currently where it is with the SPP up 0.03p to 160.93p even if they could get product through is would have to be discounted considerably against the UK trade.”
This may need to be considered if someone could actually get product through the system. Fresh wholesalers reported much the same as the previous week but did not require any more volume!
In Europe, both Denmark and Germany lost five euro cents, and prices quotes in sterling were curtailed further by a weaker Euro that ended the week down 0.30p at 84.84p – a level not seen in 17 months.
European Prices (p/kg.dwt) w/c 08/08/21 Movement on last week
GB SPP 160.90 +0.24
Tribune Spot Bacon 159.88 –0.48
European Av. 121.99 –3.00
Belgium 99.18 –2.56
Denmark 108.34 –4.98
France 136.93 –0.49
Germany 116.23 –4.67
Ireland 142.53 –1.36
Holland 111.14 –3.71
Spain 139.90 –3.00
(Ref Weekly Tribune)