European pig prices get a taste

The Spanish pig price has increased by €0,11 per kilo since the end of February to €1,57 per kilo (carcass weight). Also in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Denmark and France, increases are recorded.

Belgium is emerging from the trough
Belgium shows the second largest increase. The pig price in that country rose by €0,06 to €1,26 per kilo. It must be said that the Belgian pork price is coming out of a deep trough, partly due to the outbreak of African swine fever. In the past 8 years, the Belgian pig price has never been so low at this time of year.

The Netherlands, Denmark and France follow in third, fourth and fifth place. Pig prices here have increased by €0,05 to €1,33, €1,32 and €1,43 per kilo respectively. The German pig price rose by €0,03 to €1,38 per kilo of slaughtered weight.

Smaller pig herd
The price increases are mainly due to the smaller pig herd in Europe, with fewer pigs in the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark in particular. In Spain and France, the pig population did increase last year. Nevertheless, the Spanish pork price is leading the increases, which is the result of an increasing demand for meat parts from countries outside the European Union.

Spain has been focusing outside Europe for some time now. Pork exports to countries outside the European Union increased by 2018% in 8 to 854.000 tons. In addition, a deal was signed with China in November 2018, allowing Spain to also export unfrozen pork and pork on the bone to the country. Since this deal, a larger share of Spanish pork is eligible for export to China.

Higher Internet Scholarship
It is expected that this upward trend will continue on the (German) pig market. The Internet Exchange has increased by €2 to €0,09 per kilo in the last 1,56 auction rounds. As a result, the difference with the VEZG quotation has been stretched to €0,13 per kilo, while the normal bandwidth is approximately €0,07 per kilo.