Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain.
In a big boost to beleaguered producers, the EU-spec SPP has recorded its biggest increase since March 2023, gaining 1.72p to stand at 180.2p/kg during the week ended May 30.
The last have seen more volatility than usual in the price index. The latest gain follows and fall of 1.26p, a gain of 1.26p and a fall of 1.88p.
The SPP remins remains nearly 27p 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 showed a welcome increase of 2.6 eurocents in the base Spanish pig price. There was a reduction in Belgium, but prices stood on in the other key pig producing countries.
The grade S EU reference price lost another 0.5p to stand at 142.64p/kg during the week ended May 24, meaning it has lost 5.5p in five week since its spring recovery. With the equivalent UK price also coming down, the gap between EU and UK references has narrowed slightly to just over 41p, albeit 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 170,368 head during the week ended May 30, slightly down on the previous week but 16,500 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 seventh consecutive week, losing 0.46kg to stand at 92.22kg, more than 3kg below the recent April peak and now just 1.6g above year-earlier levels.
London feed wheat futures were quoted by AHDB on June 3 at £180/t for July, £8 down on last week, and £182/t for November, £6 lower.