Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain.
The EU-spec SPP has continued its more gradual downward trend, losing a further 0.23p during the week ended February 15 to stand at 202.82p/kg, following a similar fall the previous week.
While the SPP has now lost 3.5p since the start of the year and has dipped below 203p/kg for the first time since January 2023, the rate of decline has steadied over the past fortnight. It is now 8.4p below the same week in 2024, although it remains at an historically high level.
AHDB is still unable to report an All Pig Price (APP) as recent changes in the market structure mean the data provided does not meet validation and publication thresholds. Data for the APP was supplied by six marketing groups, two of which, TVC and Scotlean, recently announced a merger, along with Scottish Pig Producers, to form the United Pig Cooperative.
AHDB has begun consulting with the pig industry on a review of the All Pig Price (APP) data series and potential alternative data sources.
European pig prices have steadied over the past fortnight, helped by increasing confidence that Germany’s FMD outbreak has been contained, with last week seeing a welcome 2.2 euro-cents increase in Ireland, alongside a 2.6 euro-cents increase in Spain.
However, the gap between the EU and UK reference prices (S-grade) has moved beyond 50p for the first time. After a fall of just over a penny, the EU reference price stood at 155.25p/kg during the week ended February 9.
Recently-published Defra data shows January UK clean pig slaughterings were up 4.5% on January 2024 at 868,000 head, while pigmeat production, at 82,000 tonnes, was 4.6% higher year on year.
AHDB’s estimated GB slaughterings had been trending well above 2023 and 2024 levels so far this year. However, once again following the publication of the monthly Defra data, AHDB has heavily revised its monthly slaughter figures. This time the figures are revised downwards by, typically, around 12,000 to 14,000 head per week, dating back to the start of the year.
It means the AHDB’s January GB slaughter estimates are very much in line with January 2024, although the estimates for February are ahead of last year.
The figure for the week ended February 15, 167,300 head, was 1,600 down on the previous week, but 6,500 above 2024 levels and nearly 5,000 above the 2023 figure.
As always, however, these estimates are subject to further revision.
Average carcase weights slipped back very slightly to 92.01kg in the SPP sample in the week ended February 15, 1.7kg higher than a year ago.
London feed wheat futures were quoted by AHDB on February 19 at just under £180/t for March and £186/t for May, both slightly down on last week.
To see the weekly price graphs, click here.