Average pig prices have been increasing since the end of March in the EU, leaving values the equivalent of £4.35 per 100 kg higher that four weeks ago, according to BPEX.
“In the week ending April 26, the average price reported to the European Commission was just under €147 (£107) per 100kg,” said BPEX, adding that the gains being seen are due to increased demand from processors, with most pigs coming forward being sold quickly.
Prices were also helped by fine weather across the continent resulting in the start of barbecue demand although BPEX also noted the stop-go nature of this factor in commenting that “this appears to have been short lived”.
Belgium saw the largest price gain in April compared to a month earlier with large increases also being seen in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Denmark.
Howevear, gains in Spain, the UK and France have been “more modest” with the UK-EU price gap falling to around £24.70/100 kg in the last month as EU prices increased by more than in the UK. The current premium is still larger than this time last year, however, when it stood at £21/100 kg.