The state of the market is now more about movement of volume rather than price, according to Thames Valley Cambac.
Alongside the partial closure of Cranswick’s Watton site due to COVID-19, there are a growing number of reduced kills at other plants. At a time of year when we would be looking to move extra pigs, this is a real concern, TVC said in its latest market update.
“The actual trade is reported as relatively buoyant with retail up and the demand from China continues to be good,” it said.
However, with plants losing staff to COVID-19, some facilities are having to ‘self-suspend from exporting to China’.
“Food service remains lacklustre with increasing amounts of regional lock-downs which as of later this week will become national. However there has been an increasing amount of pressure from imported supplies as the European scene worsens due to the restriction on German product not having access to China,” TVC added.
European price quotes in sterling were further compromised by a weaker Euro that ended the week down 0.46p at 90.21p.
Weaner demand remained out of synch with supply, and there was little interest for any supplies outside regular movements. AHDB prices saw the weighted average for a 30kg pig fall £2.72 to £54.23, and there was no quote for a 7kg pig.
European Prices (p/kg.dwt) w/c 01/11/20 Movement on last week
European Av. 128.23 – 1.11
Belgium 99.58 – 0.52
Denmark 124.76 – 0.74
France 146.68 – 1.63
Germany 114.56 – 0.59
Ireland 145.23 – 0.75
Holland 118.69 – 0.61
Spain 148.12 – 2.94
(Ref: Weekly Tribune)