The poorer summer demand seen by many of the major processors meant that trade was a touch steadier, according to this week’s Slaughter Pig Marketing Summary from Thames Valley Cambac.
Supply improved slightly but average weights are still trending downwards. One major planned a short week in advance of the Bank Holiday, but supplies coped easily with this, and all pigs were placed. Prices eased generally with some contract contributions slipping a penny.
The fresh meat market was quieter, as more changeable weather curtailed outdoor dining opportunities, but prices generally stood on. The cull sow market continued to power ahead with prices up another 4p, in reaction to more dramatic prices rises in Germany. The increases in Europe were due to a continued supply shortage, albeit partly manufactured, by the farmer groups, who have been unhappy with the pricing levels from their processors.
The German market saw another rise of 6 eurocents, making it 14 euro cents in two weeks. This, in turn, encouraged improvements in some near neighbours with Holland the star performer, up 10 eurocents. All quotes in sterling were tempered slightly however, by a weaker Euro that ended the week down 0.10p at 89.57p.
In the Weaner Marketing Summary, for week commencing August 12, demand remained poor with some fatteners commenting that 7kg weaners purchased now were not attractive as they would become Christmas / New Year bacon.
Spot trade for 7kgs weaners or 30kgs stores was very quiet. The prices announced by the AHDB saw the weighted average for a 30kgs pig fall by £3.28 to £52.79 and the weighted average for a 7kg fall by £1.98 to £37.41.