Irish pig price outpaces EU average

Ireland’s pig price is currently 104% of the EU average price, as reported to the EU Commission for the week commencing May 24.

There was no change in Irish pig prices last Friday, with producers reporting an average price of around €2.28/kg for pigs sold in the Republic of Ireland. Some pig farmers are securing up to 4c/kg above the average, driven by growing demand for Irish born and reared pigs.

Factory pig throughput in Irish export plants for the week ending May 25 was 64,835 head - 282 more than the previous week and 1,857 more than the same week in 2024.

Ireland’s pig price is currently 104% of the EU average price, as reported to the EU Commission for the week commencing May 24.

The EU average pig price for week 21 (grade E carcass, excluding VAT) was 209.3c/kg. This represents a 0.7% increase on the previous week, a 2.8% rise on last month, but remains 5% behind the same period last year.

The EU has marginally increased its 2025/26 wheat production forecast to 134.6 million tonnes. However, overall wheat supplies remain tight, with end-of-season stocks expected to be 13.6% lower than last year and well below the recent average.

While recent good weather and large global grain stocks are keeping prices steady, any weather disruption in Europe could quickly change the outlook.