Pig prices steady at €2.28/kg amid strong demand
The EU average price for week 20 for R-grade carcass was 207.9c/kg excluding VAT. This is 0.7% higher than the previous week, but represents a 3.1% increase on last month’s prices. File picture
There was no change in Irish pig prices last Friday, with producers reporting an average price of around €2.28/kg due to continued unannounced increases over the past number of weeks.
Some producers are receiving up to 4c/kg above the average, indicating strong market demand for pigs born and reared in the Republic of Ireland, as well as heightened competition among processors.
The EU average price for week 20 for R-grade carcass was 207.9c/kg excluding VAT. This is 0.7% higher than the previous week but represents a 3.1% increase on last month’s prices and is 5% behind prices for the same month last year.
The weekly throughput for pigs for the week ending May 25 was 64,835, of which 63,161 were fattener pigs and 1,673 were sows.
Factory pig throughput in Republic of Ireland export plants for the week ending May 25 was 64,835 head, which was 282 more than last week and 1,857 more than in the corresponding week in 2024.
Grain prices dropped sharply this week in both Europe and the US, following a downturn in North American markets. On Euronext, wheat fell to €201/t and corn slipped below €200/t. Rapeseed briefly hit €490/t before retreating.
Weather remains a key watchpoint, with storms and rising temperatures expected. In the US, wheat, corn, and soybean prices all fell after markets re-opened post-holiday.
Soybean planting is now 76% complete—above the five-year average. Despite this, prices are down, and crop conditions will be closely watched in the coming weeks.
Ireland’s percentage of the EU price is currently 104% of the EU average price as reported to the EU Commission for the week commencing May 17, 2025.
