Hogan’s bad news for EU pig farmers
He said the Danish proposal at this week’s Farm Council, would not solve current market difficulties linked to over-supply.
EU pig prices had fallen by about 20p a kilo in less than two months, reaching levels in the Netherlands and Germany not seen since the 2001 foot and mouth time. This is attributed to increased export competition since July. Consumption and exports will remain under pressure, and 2015 prospects are weak, according to a Rabobank market analysis.
IFA says the top export plant price (flat rate) stays at 160c/kg this week, but there is a 5c range after some plants have pulled back by 4c, and the Northern Ireland price has fallen to 156c. The pork slaughter top price is 158c. The sow price is 90-100c/kg deadweight.
According to lFA, Irish prices have been running 7% ahead of the EU average. However, for the week commencing October 27, they were only 78% of the price in the UK, which is Ireland’s main pigmeat export market.
Factory pig throughput in Republic of Ireland export plants for the week ending November 1st 2014 was 48,910 head which was 11,170 less than in the previous week and 2,540 more than in the corresponding week in 2013. For the year to date, pig throughput in ROI meat exporting premises is now 3.6% ahead of last year.
Weekly Slaughtering’s: Week-ending 1/11/2014 Pigs: 48,910 Sows: 1,794 2014,
