Analysis Pigs
Pig and piglet prices remain unchanged.
The pig and piglet market is moving steadily, but underlying pressure is increasing due to a larger supply and weakening demand. Shifts in trade and sales are occurring particularly after Easter. Read more about the development of the piglet and pig market.
Read this article?
Become a subscriber and get instant access
Choose the subscription that suits you
The loss of a processing day at Easter is noticeable in the trade. Slaughter pigs are harder to place, and traders sometimes have to rearrange stock. The situation was different in recent weeks. No major problems are occurring, and the expectation is that demand for slaughter-ready pigs will pick up again soon.
The supply may be slightly more abundant in the coming weeks, as more piglets remained in the Netherlands around the time of the African swine fever outbreak, traders indicate.
The meat market will show how demand develops after Easter. Demand for industrial meat is under pressure, prompting Tönnies to lower the quotation by €0,10 to €0,73 per kilo. The group indicates that sales are faltering and that meat is being frozen. The supply of slaughter sows in Germany appears to be high, despite the increased piglet prices. This is not a favorable development for the development of pig prices later this year. At the same time, Dutch traders indicate that pigs and slaughter sows are easy to place in Germany. The DCA Exchange Price remains unchanged this week.
Supply of piglets grows
Meanwhile, there are no longer any shortages on the piglet market. The market is trending towards a slight oversupply, partly because slaughtering is taking place one day less this week and piglets are harder to place. Additionally, demand for piglets is declining in Spain, putting pressure on free market prices. This particularly affects smaller groups, for which prices are once again below €70 per piglet. Spanish demand is expected to fall further in the coming weeks, as is seasonally customary.
The supply of piglets is being boosted as closed farms sometimes decide to sell piglets rather than fatten them themselves, in view of market prospects. Pressure is slowly building on piglet prices, although this is not yet concretely visible in the quotations. The DCA BestPigletPrice remains unchanged at €57,50 per piglet for the third time this week.
Click here for an explanation from DCA Market Intelligence on the BestPigletPrice.
Click here for an explanation by DCA Market Intelligence regarding the Stock Exchange Change Price.