Uncertainty reigns in the pig and piglet market

The pressure on the German market is affecting the Dutch pig and piglet market this week. The expectation is that prices will take a significant dive this week. The first DCA Beurs Mutation price for 2026 is preparing for this. The DCA BestPigletPrice is also moving downwards. At the start of a new calendar year, the pig market always has to find its balance after the loss of slaughter days with the holidays. The Dutch pig supply is therefore ample. However, it could have been worse on the domestic market, traders indicate. There are many pigs, but it is not overwhelming. Many pigs in Germany In Germany, there are relatively more pigs, it sounds. There is also talk of a pig jam, or 'Schweinestau'. The expectation is that this will cause a significant price correction in the German market this week. A decrease of -€0.10 per kilo is being discussed, or possibly even more substantial. It is expected that this will remain a single substantial price correction in January. Although Dutch slaughterhouses are already applying a lower base price, the expectation is that they will (mostly) follow the downward trend. As a result, pig traders obtain for a lower DCA Beurs Mutation price. From the submissions, the price drop this week is -€0.04 per kilo. Falling meat prices There is also strong price pressure in the meat market. This is partly due to lower demand for pork after the holidays. In the lead-up to this, some component prices increased, but they are now correcting downwards again. Additionally, the market is still struggling with the outbreak of African swine fever in Spain, which puts significant pressure on the component prices. Heavyweights within the carcass are also falling sharply this week, as evidenced by the cut prices from DCA. It is still uncertain how the market will react when slaughtering returns to normal speed from next week. Piglet market The price pressure on the pig market is also reflected in the piglet market. The Dutch export is missing impulses from Spain. There is some demand, but only at low prices of slightly more than €30 per piglet. Within the fixed connections, the situation is friendlier. Based on the submissions, this week a decrease of €0.50 to €35 per piglet is expected. Note: as of 2026, the amount for 'advice fixed costs' at the multiplier has increased from €2.30 to €2.50 per piglet.