Pig prices continue to come under pressure, despite tightening supplies, with one major player, Morrisons-Woodheads, dropping its contribution by 5p to 185p last week.
“The market was a mixture of price pressure and tightening supply – nonsensical from the outside, but just as we start to see production waning, a major processor saw fit to reduce their price contribution substantially,” Thames Valley Cambac said in its latest weekly market update.
“It mirrored similar falls instigated by others in previous weeks but galls when the industry is so far below break even. In contrast, the fresh meat market was slightly better, possibly improved by early festive demand.”
TVC predicts that, as the poultry industry struggles with the ravages of Avian Influenza, there may be a chance in some households for pork to ‘take centre stage at Christmas’.
The better news, however, is that cull sows were stronger on the back of improved continental trade, and supplies were unfortunately enhanced by a couple more herd closures, according to TVC.
European markets were similar, but prices in sterling were tempered by a weaker Euro that ended the week down 0.48p at 87.06p.
The weaner market was little changed with bare minimum movements outside the normal contracted deliveries. There was insufficient data for AHDB to formulate any quotes.
UK and European Prices (p/kg) w/c 20/11/22 Movement on last week
SPP 200.37 – 0.02
Tribune Spot Bacon 204.28 n/c
European Av. 167.07 – 0.74
Belgium 149.23 + 0.33
Denmark 145.13 – 0.80
France 188.93 – 1.20
Germany 165.42 – 0.90
Ireland 182.83 – 1.00
Holland 152.45 – 0.74
Spain 185.44 – 1.02
(Ref Weekly Tribune)