Fresh Covid outbreaks at a couple of factories, leading to sudden staff shortages, added to the general issues across the pork supply chain last week, according to Thames Valley Cambac.
Last week saw little respite from the ongoing problems with numerous processing issues causing pigs to be rolled into Christmas, TVC said in its latest weekly marketing report. “The upshot was an oversupply on a short week, which just added to the pile of backlogged pigs,” it said.
“Weekly price contributions stood on but prices eased in response to another penny drop in the SPP. There was little festive spirit in the fresh meat market as demand diminished due in part to Covid cancelations at pubs and restaurants.”
The cull sow market was limited as the continent closed down for the holiday period, while European markets stood on price-wise but price quotes in sterling eased as the Euro fell 0.14p to 85.21p.
The weaner market remains badly disrupted by the backlog in the slaughter market, which resonates back down to the weaner producer, with many units now overstocked, TVC added.
There was insufficient data for the AHDB to issue any prices.
European Prices (p/kg.dwt) w/c 19/12/21 Movement on last week
GB SPP 141.81 – 1.03
Tribune Spot Bacon 142.00 – 0.19
European Av. 107.02 – 0.19
Belgium 85.21 – 0.15
Denmark 96.29 – 0.16
France 127.39 – 0.30
Germany 104.81 – 0.18
Ireland 124.40 – 0.22
Holland 98.33 – 0.17
Spain 112.90 – 0.20
Ref Weekly Tribune