Rising slaughter figures depress pig prices

In the week that Vion reduced the pig price by €0,03 to €1,42 per kilo, 332.000 pigs were slaughtered in the Netherlands. This is 10.000 slaughters more than the slaughter record in 2016 in the last week before Christmas. Compared to the 5-year average for this week, it is a plus of 6%. The weights drop by 40 grams to 96,20 kilos.

In Germany too, there are increasing slaughter figures and declining weights. This is a signal that pigs are being brought forward, which is also noticeable in the market.  

France and Germany
The 1.056.542 pigs slaughtered in Germany is a provisional slaughter record for 2017, but this is 0,3% lower than the same week last year. The weight of the slaughtered pigs decreased by 36 grams to an average of 97,673 kilos. The German pork price is not holding up under the pork supply, which is currently considered ample. The quotation fell yesterday, December 13, by €0,05 to €1,40 kilo. This movement was followed by the large slaughterhouses in Germany, such as Tönnies.

In France the pig price for several weeks, but at a more moderate pace. In the past 3 weeks, the French pig price (Brittany) has fallen by €0,03 to €1,177 per kilo. There is also a provisional slaughter record in week 49 in France. Compared to the previous week, the number of slaughters increased by approximately 1,5% to 382.343 heads. This number is almost equal to the 5-year average of that week. For six months now, more slaughter has been carried out in the Netherlands than last year.