Inside Pigs
'It is pressing at the slaughterhouses'
With the month of December just around the corner, demand on the meat market is picking up cautiously. However, it is not enough to stir the DCA Scholarship 2.0.
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The last time the German pork price (the VEZG) remained stable for so long was exactly 1 year ago. In the run-up to Christmas, the quotation remained stable for 8 weeks at €1,45 per kilo. In the last weeks of the year, the European pig market still collapsed.
At the moment, the price level of €1,36 per kilo has been on the boards for 7 weeks and hardly anyone is hinting at a price increase. The slaughterhouses are in high demand for pigs and seem to be satisfied with the current purchasing prices. This points out the slaughter figures from recent weeks as well.
Despite the good demand, it is not self-evident that all pigs submitted can be placed. The supply in the Netherlands is extremely wide, because pig farmers are taking into account falling pig prices. In Germany there is a better balance between supply and demand, although this may differ slightly per region or state.
Slightly smoother meat sales
It is expected that the ample supply will continue in December, while Christmas and New Year's Day are unfortunate from a planning perspective. There are rumors that a German slaughterhouse will even close completely in week 52. It cannot therefore be ruled out that pressure on prices will build up at the end of December, just as happened last year.
Meat sales show a slight improvement, based on the retailers' Christmas shopping. However, it is not enough to increase the price of pork. The DCA Exchange Price 2.0 therefore remains at €1,28 per kilo for slaughtered pigs, while the price of live pigs amounts to €1,03 per kilo.