Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain.
Following last week’s welcome 1.72p gain, the EU-spec SPP has recorded its biggest decline since the start of the year, losing 2.32p to stand at 177.88p/kg during the week ended May June.
The big fall continues to volatility seen over the past few weeks, with big gains followed by large declines. The SPP is now at its lowest point since May 2022 and is nearly 30p below where it stood a year ago, on the back of an imbalance of supply and demand, compounded by low EU prices.
The latest Tribune roundup as last week, saw another welcome increase in Spain, as it continues to recover from its African swine fever outbreak, alongside a reduction in Belgium. Elsewhere, there was no movement.
The grade S EU reference was stable at 142.58p/kg during the week ended May 31, 5.5p the recent April high, following its spring recovery. But with the equivalent UK price rising, the gap between EU and UK references has increased to nearly 43p, still an improvement on the peak of around 70p seen in February.
There are continued signs the backlog is easing. Continuing the trend of the first quarter, Defra figures showed April UK clean pig slaughterings were up 3.3% on April 2025.
The trend appears to be continuing into May. AHDB’s estimated GB clean pig slaughterings stood at 166,417 head during the week ended June 6, 4,000 down on the previous week but 5,000 head above year-earlier levels. These figures are always subject to revision.
In a further clear sign that the backlog is easing, average carcase weights fell for the eighth consecutive week, losing 0.41kg to stand at 91.81kg, nearly 4kg below the recent April peak and now just 1.7g above year-earlier levels.
London feed wheat futures were quoted by AHDB on June 10 at £176/t for July, £4 down on last week, and £181/t for November, £1 lower.