Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain.
After the stability that marked the end of 2024, the EU-spec SPP has started 2025 with two significant drops, losing 0.85p for the second consecutive week to stand at 204.58p/kg during the week ended January 11.
The remained within a very narrow band of 206.1-206.61p/kg since the start of November to late-December, but after losing 1.7p in a fortnight, it has dipped below 205p/kg for the first time since January 2023. The SPP is now 8.5p below the same week in 2024, although it remains at an historically high level.
The more volatile APP, which includes premium pigs, bounced back, gaining 0.66p, after losing 1.76p the previous week to stand at 207.72p/kg during the week ended January 4. This increased the gap to the SPP to 2.29p for the week.
Prices fell in various EU countries last week, led by a 10 euro-cents drop in Germany. Even before that, the EU reference price (S-grade) dropped back by 1.8p during the week ended January 5 to 162.53p/kg, increasing the gap to the equivalent UK reference price increased to close to a massive 44p, more than double the gap seen for much of last year.
Estimated GB slaughterings for the week ended January 11 stood at 161,455 head, 6,000 above the same week of 2024, but 3,000 below the 2023 figure. As always, these figures remain subject to revision.
Carcase weights increased again, averaging 91.73 kg in the SPP sample in the week ended January 11, 0.29kg up on the week, after dipping to just over 88kg before Christmas, as pigs were pulled forward. This was 1.4kg higher than a year ago.
London feed wheat futures were quoted by AHDB on January 15 at £180/t for January and £185/t for March.
To see the weekly price graphs, click here.