There was no change in Irish pig prices last Friday with farmers reporting quotes of at least €2.10 – €2.14 available from processors in ROI. Sow prices did increase last week signalling demand for manufacturing meat. Many Irish pig farmers still have quite a lot of debt to clear from the financial crisis of the pig sector and this further price rise brings some level of confidence to producers as the market continues to improve. Future markets are also looking strong.
The average European price for a grade E carcass pig for week 7 was €2.11/kg, which is still behind by -6.8% on prices for the same week last year according to the Commission, but is up 4.3% on last months average price.
EU pigmeat exports in 2023 were back by -18% in volumes. Spanish exports were back -19% while the Netherlands were back -20%. The most significant reduction can be observed in Denmark with export volumes back a massive -30% on 2022. Irish exports were back 16%. The weekly throughput figures for week ending the 3rd of March was 63,573 of which 1,834 were sows as reported by DAFM.
