Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain.
The EU-spec SPP resumed its downward trend, but lost just 0.08p to stand at 206.43p/kg during the week ended November 30. This came after the price index gained 0.28p last week to interrupt 10 consecutive weekly falls.
The SPP remains at its lowest level since February 2023, having lost 3.6p since late-August. It is now 9.5p below the same week last year, a time when prices were coming down steadily.
The more volatile APP, which includes premium pigs, gained 0.74p during the week ended November 23 to stand at 208.82p/kg, after losing 0.58p the previous week. The gap to the SPP narrowed to 2.3p for the week.
The UK pig price continues to hold up remarkably well, against the backdrop of falling EU prices. However, the EU reference price (S-grade) picked up very slightly during the week ended November 24, to stand at 163.81p/kg. Nonetheless, the gap to the equivalent UK reference price remains at an unprecedented 43.7p.
Estimated GB slaughterings were down by more than 4,000 on the previous week to 163,820 head during the week ended November 30. This was 12,000 below the same week last year, and 18,000 head down on 2022 throughputs.
Increasing carcase weights have been further supporting pigmeat production. With pigs being pulled forward for Christmas, the average is now coming down, falling by 0.67kg to 89.96kg in the SPP sample during the week ended November 30. This was just under 1kg above the same week in 2023.
London feed wheat futures were quoted by AHDB on December 4 at £177/t for January, £6 down on last week, and £181/t for March, £5 down on last week.
To see the weekly price graphs, click here.