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. Some farmers are reporting prices of €2.16/kg available from processors also. In Germany, future markets are also looking strong with the outlook likely that prices will move to €2.25/kg this week.
The average European price for a grade E carcass pig for week 9 was €2.14/kg, which is still behind by -6% on prices for the same week last year according to the Commission, but is up 6.4% on last month’s average price.
This week Russia has announced that it has sent pork to China for the first time in 15 years. In 2008, the Chinese government put a ban on Russian pigmeat products due to ASF. On March 7th twenty seven tonnes of pigmeat were sent to China from Russia. The biggest exporters of pigmeat and offal to China are Brazil, Canada, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands and the US with Russia now hoping to secure a percentage of that market.
