Chunk prices also rose further in April. This is apparent from the figures from Wageningen Economic Research for the month of April. Major chunk commodities, such as corn and soy, have started another rally in the past month. This has an important effect on the lump prices.
Standard chunk A stands at €26,85 per 100 kilos in April. A month earlier that was €26,30 and in January €25,30. A-brok has therefore become more than 6% more expensive this year. Protein-rich chunks (B) cost an average of €29,25 per 100 kilos in April. The price of this a month earlier was €28,70 per 100 kilos. Silage maize core chunks are an exception to the rising chunk prices. The price has remained the same as last month at €38,65 per 100 kilos.
The price of pork chunks has also risen. Pork chunks have become €0,50 more expensive compared to March and now cost €27,45 per 100 kilos. Sow pellet pregnancy has increased from €27,90 in March to €28,45 per 100 kilos in April. Sow pellet lakto works out at €32,80 per 100 kilos. Baby piglet pellet and starter/transitional pellet have both become €0,55 more expensive and amount to €38,75 and €31,75 per 100 kilos respectively.
Rise not over yet
The price increase of corn and soy in particular does not seem to have come to an end yet. A further increase in chunk prices is therefore expected and is also supported by the Boerenbusiness Compound feed price indicator indicated. Especially in the Midwestern United States - the most important corn growing area - the weather causes problems when sowing corn and soy. Parts are experiencing frost and, especially in the south of the Cornbelt, arable farmers have been rained out after several tens of millimeters of rainfall. In an already tense market, this has an additional effect on driving up prices.
China changes strategy
China continues to work on the recovery of the pig herd after the disastrous outbreak of African swine fever and is purchasing large quantities of feed raw materials to do so. The country has changed its strategy due to high corn and soy prices. In April, the Chinese state decided to increase the share of relatively cheaper wheat in the ration. For the time being, this appears to have little effect on corn and soy prices.