Pig prices fall by a further 8c/kg

The price reduction marks a total decline of 32c/kg since July. File photo

Irish pig prices fell by 8c/kg on Friday, marking a total decline of 32c/kg since July.

The average price for grade E carcasses in week 37 stood at 198.8c/kg (excluding VAT), down 0.5% on the previous week, 1.6% lower than last month and 2.8% behind the same period in 2024. 

The R-grade reported price for the week beginning September 8 was €1.95/kg (excl VAT), 10.5% below the commission’s figure for the same week last year.

Feed market dynamics are adding further pressure. Large harvests in Argentina and Australia, coupled with aggressive Black Sea exporters, are weighing on European grain exports. 

Algeria recently purchased over 500,000 tonnes of wheat but excluded French origins, while Turkey has issued a tender for substantial barley volumes. China’s renewed drive for self-sufficiency may reduce grain imports in the short term. 

In the US, soybean exports are under pressure as China turns to Argentina, though strong corn demand has seen Mexico buying heavily.

Ireland’s percentage of the EU price currently stands at 101.5% of the EU average, according to the EU Commission for the week starting September 13, 2025.

Factory pig throughput in Irish export plants for the week ending September 21 was 66,730 head, an increase of 959 on last week and 3,464 higher than the same week in 2024.