Inside Pigs
European pig prices hold sideways
Pig prices in the European Union are currently relatively stable, as the latest ISN price comparison shows. Although market sentiment is more positive, this is not yet reflected in pig prices.
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The pig price in France dropped last week are the only ones to see an increase and this trend is continuing this week. The French pork price will increase by no less than €0,05 to €1,89 per kilo, bringing the country quite close to Spain. The Spanish price has been stable for weeks at €1,93 per kilo, a level that until recently was far above the rest.
In contrast, the pig price in Denmark fell by €0,01 to €1,73 per kilo, although this country showed the only stagnation this week. While the Belgian pig price fell by €0,03 last week, it now remains stable at €1,65 per kilo. The price also remains stable in both the Netherlands and Germany: €1,72 and €1,79 per kilo respectively.
Positive mood
Since pork prices have been moving sideways for a number of weeks now, there has been an opportunity for meat prices to recover. Now that China in particular is asking for more (luxury) meat products, as a result of the many outbreaks of African swine fever, some slaughterhouses are also Saturday slaughter. This creates a more positive market sentiment. Although the supply is still ample, 1 extra day of slaughter gives the market a bit more breathing space.
This more positive sentiment was underlined on Friday, September 6, by the Internet Exchange, which rose by €0,03 to €1,94 per kilo. As a result, the difference with the German pig price (the VEZG quotation) has increased to €0,09. This indicates that a small increase in pork prices may be in the air.
Not a normal year
A plus would be striking, given that the market normally looks for a downward trend during this period of the year. In Germany, the average pig price during this period last year was €1,49 per kilo, which is €0,30 lower than this year. In addition, the pig price fell by €0,18 since that week to €1,31 at the end of the year.
An increase in the price of pigs at this time of the year is also unusual in the Netherlands. Last year the pig price was €1,32 per kilo this week and in 2017 the price was €1,58 per kilo. However, in our country too, the price has started to decline after this week; Between mid-September last year and the end of December, the pig price fell by €0,07 to €1,24 per kilo.