Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. June 2025
    2. 2025 Innovation supplement
    3. May 2025
    4. April 2025
    5. March 2025
    6. 2025 Buildings supplement
    7. February 2025
    8. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    9. January 2025
    10. December 2024
    11. November 2024
    12. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    13. October 2024
    14. September 2024
    15. August 2024
    16. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    17. July 2024
    18. June 2024
    19. 2024 Innovation supplement
    20. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    21. May 2024
    22. April 2024
    23. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    24. March 2024
    25. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    26. February 2024
    27. January 2024
    28. December 2023
    29. November 2023
    30. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    31. October 2023
    32. September 2023
    33. Health Supplement
    Featured

    June 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    June 4, 2025
    Recent

    June 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    June 4, 2025

    2025 Innovation supplement now available

    June 4, 2025

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
News

Risks higher supply availability will keep prices under pressure

Simon KingBy Simon KingAugust 1, 20182 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

AHDB has recently reviewed the UK pig meat supplies forecast, produced in April.

Domestic production was higher than anticipated during Q2. This was partly due to the timing of Easter this year, which unusually straddled the first and second quarters. However, it also seems the impact of the disease challenges this winter was not quite as severe as expected.

Nonetheless, production growth is still expected to moderate in Q3 in light of the relatively difficult winter. Production might now also be limited in the short-term if the current hot weather continues, reducing pig growth rates.

However, by Q4, these limitations should phase out. With at least some modest breeding herd growth anticipated, strong production growth could therefore return by the end of the year. There may be some slowdown in the rate of increase moving into 2019 though, with the current weather limiting breeding herd performance.

Imports dropped significantly in Q1, which was expected in light of the higher UK production at the time. However, it is more difficult to estimate Q2 volumes, as figures are only available for April and May, and show diverging trends.

The gap between UK and EU pig prices widened during the second quarter, and the UK premium continues to be high by historic standards, suggesting there may have been increased pressure on pig meat imports.

Meanwhile, despite a strong performance in Q1, initial estimates for Q2 exports suggest shipments slowed in the second quarter. Estimates based on the available figures for April and May indicate an 11% year-on-year decline.

The Chinese market has been more difficult than anticipated, and this looks set to continue, with domestic pig prices there remaining depressed. With global supplies expected to increase this year, there is tough competition on the global pork market at the moment.

1-uk-outlook
In light of developments on the export market, it seems it may be challenging to achieve the export growth forecast back in April for the rest of this year. This means there are risks that supplies on the domestic market could be higher than anticipated, and currently no signs of growth in UK demand to meet this additional product.

Recent Kantar Worldpanel data suggests overall pig meat demand has been broadly stable, with bacon and sausages counteracting declining fresh pork sales. If this continues, further downward pressure may be felt on pig prices, especially in the latter quarter of the year.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleEU pig prices in a holding pattern
Next Article 2018 Pig & Poultry Fair: The best event yet
Simon King

Read Similar Stories

Greater onus on farmers to justify autumn spreading, under revised FRfW guidance

June 20, 2025

Opportunity for pig farmers to take part in Just Farmers media workshops

June 20, 2025

Red Tractor research highlights public backing for British food

June 19, 2025
Latest News

Greater onus on farmers to justify autumn spreading, under revised FRfW guidance

June 20, 2025

Opportunity for pig farmers to take part in Just Farmers media workshops

June 20, 2025

Red Tractor research highlights public backing for British food

June 19, 2025
Sponsored Content

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024

Tackle the root cause of PWD with free diagnostic tests

March 1, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Farrowing Manager

    • Suffolk
    • Blythburgh Pigs
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1752 Somerset

    • Somerset
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Piggery Stockpersons – Ref 1751 Western Australia

    • Western Australia
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.