Market Update for Week Commencing
8th March 2010
Demand today was actually quite good, despite 1 significant company still reflecting an 8% fall in overall requirements this last couple of weeks and next. Another company had to resort to the spot market to fulfil their requirements for both plants. Numbers are still on the strong side but not as plentiful as they have been. They will of course tighten up much more as we progress through the next 5 months. Pig prices in the main are stable with some cutters slightly increasing, spot bacon probably level as are weekly-priced contract pigs. DAPP moved up very slightly (0.14p). Sow prices are also stable; although £terling has weakened considerably, German prices have also fallen. European pig prices have varied; Dutch, Danish & French prices are stable, Spanish (+2.3%) & Polish (+3.5%) prices improved but Germany was down 1.8%. EU average was + 0.3%. £terling has taken a battering this week, at 1 point down to 91p/€ (currently 90.4). You will note the 11% increase in UK slaughterings in January compared to Jan 09. Provisional census results for 21 of EU states is just published (90% of EU 27 pig pop.) Although there are some large variations, sow numbers appear to be down 0.7% (Dec 09/Dec 08) and in-pig sows up 0.3%.
