Schweine News, 03/08/2023

Germany: V price 2.28 €/kg (range 2.28 – 2.33 €/kg) - unchanged The weekly slaughter figures have risen to 746,679 pigs ( previous week 726,826 ), but remain well below the multi-year average values; the slaughter weights have decreased somewhat to 97.2 kg . With 238,000 pigs (previous week 227,400 ), the pre-registrations remain well below the average of previous years. Price quotation for cuts has been discontinued. At the ISN auction on Tue, 07.An average price of €2.36/kg was achieved in a range of €2.35 to €2.38/kg in March 2023.   The V price for the period from 03/09/2023 to 03/15/2023 remained at €2.28/kg; the range is from 2.28 to 2.33 €/kg. ASF : As of March 2nd, 2023, 5,128 ASF infected wild boars in Brandenburg, Saxony and Mecklenburg have been officially confirmed. In the month of Jan.23 alone, 216 cases were reported. Domestic pigs in a small herd of 11 animals in the Neisse-Spreen area were culled. Market and price development in selected competitor countries: In Denmark, the prices in the 10th week of 2023 have remained unchanged at a comparable calculated €1.80/kg . The high Danish export dependency to third countries limits the price scope. In Belgium, prices are in the 10thCW 2023 remained unchanged once again at €2.16/kg . Pigs are scarce, but meat sales are limited. In the Netherlands , the prices in the 10th week of 2023 also remained at a comparable calculated €2.16/kg . Higher rates are not accepted on the sell side. In France/Brittany, prices have again been increased by the weekly maximum of +6 ct/kg to €2.316/kg . The slaughter figures are as low as 356,000 pigs. Slaughter weights have increased slightly at 95.87 kg. In Italy, the listings in the 10th week of 2023 rose again by a further 4 ct/kg . The supply remains too small for the demand. In Spain, the prices in the 10th week of 2023 were increased again by 6 ct/kg at a comparable €2.52/ kg. Slaughter pigs from Germany and abroad are sought to utilize the slaughter capacities.The Pig Association fears that ASF will be introduced as a result of the large number of piglet imports. In the USA/IOWA, prices have stabilized at the equivalent of €1.62/kg . Battle numbers remain at reduced levels. However, the part prices support the listing level. For the front month Apr-2023, the futures prices on the stock exchange are €1.87/kg; for the summer months prices of over 2 €/kg are already being traded. Brazil: The average producer prices have been reduced to 1.80 €/kg with REAL becoming stronger again. The carnival effect is over. Nevertheless, the price level remains above average due to the cost-related reduced pig stock in the non-contractual farms. China: Prices rose slightly in mid-February 2023 week to the equivalent of €2.75/kg . The demand for meat is seasonally weak. But the state is conducting stock purchases to stabilize.May 2023 rates of the equivalent of €3.06/kg are already being traded on the Dalian Stock Exchange. For the July 2023 delivery, prices are back at €3.20/kg. The exchange rate has strengthened. Conclusion: The persistently low slaughter figures lead to a significant decline in the meat supply. But the demand for meat is still so restrained that further price increases can hardly be pushed through. The market needs a certain amount of time to reorient itself to the increased price level. In any case, the hopes for a fundamental price reduction are hardly justifiable. Livestock numbers across the EU tend to point to a further shortage of legends on offer.