Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain.
The EU-spec SPP has recorded its biggest week increase since July 2023, gaining 1.26p to stand at 179.6p/kg during the week ended May 16.
Prior to this much needed gain, the price index had lost 19p since the start of the year and 29p since the recent August 2025 high on the back of an imbalance of supply and demand, compounded by low EU prices. It remains nearly 27p below where it stood a year ago.
The latest Tribune roundup showed European prices stood on across the board, following some big reductions reported last week.
The grade S EU reference price lost 2p to stand at 145.12p/kg during the week ended May 10, increasing the gap to the equivalent UK price narrowed to nearly 40p, compared with the peak of around 70p seen in February.
Continuing the trend of the first quarter, Defra figures showed April UK clean pig slaughterings were up 3.3% on April 2025 at 892,000 head, with pigmeat production, at 86,000 tonnes, 7.5% up year on year on the back of significantly higher carcase weights, which averaged 93.6 kgs.
There are clear signs that the trend is continuing into May. AHDB’s estimated GB clean pig slaughterings stood at 171,048 head during the week ended May 16, nearly 5,000 down on the previous week but 15,000 head above year-earlier levels.
In a further sign that the backlog is easing, average carcase weights have dropped for the fifth consecutive week, losing 0.94kg to stand at 93.15kg, 2.4kg below the recent early-April peak but still 2.2g above year-earlier levels.
London feed wheat futures were quoted by AHDB on May 14 at £188/t for May, £5 down on last week, and £189/t for July, £4 up on last week.