Piglet prices stabilize in a sluggish market

Selling free-range piglets remains a difficult task for traders. There's no will to impose additional piglets, even at historically low prices. Confidence that pig prices will significantly recover this spring is low. 

Dutch piglet exports are also struggling. Sales to Spain are not exceeding 30.000 piglets. For the time being, Germany is once again a larger market, with over 30.000 piglets shipped there in the first few weeks. In week 2, nearly 35% fewer piglets were exported than a year earlier. Prices for free-range piglets on the Spanish market are around €35 ​​per piglet, which can be slightly higher or lower depending on the size of the herd. Compared to last week, the price trend is stable.

Some traders believe piglet prices have fallen too far to halt the premiums. Others hold the opposite view. Based on the data, the DCA BestPigletPrice is stabilizing this week at €31,50 per piglet. This was the data provided by the majority of DCA's data providers. A spring recovery, such as has often occurred during this period in recent years, is not yet in sight. 

Stock market unchanged
The DCA Exchange Mutation Price also remains unchanged this week. The market expects pig prices in Northwest Europe to remain stable in the coming weeks, in line with the parts prices From DCA, which also demonstrates stability. Demand for pigs is not excessive, and supply is high. The supply bottleneck resulting from the holidays is larger than anticipated. Many traders indicate they will still have flocks left over this week. At 102,6 kg, the average slaughter weight is increasing, although it was higher last year. Historically, this decreases again from mid-January. 

Click here for an explanation from DCA Market Intelligence on the BestPigletPrice.