No room for higher piglet prices as pig market stalls

The upturn in the pig and piglet market that broke out earlier this month has come to a rather abrupt halt. Now that pig prices are no longer rising, there is also no room for higher piglet prices. The balance in the piglet market is somewhat off. Where there was a strong demand for piglets last week, traders this week are left with groups for which there is no buyer. Sales opportunities in the domestic market have weakened because the prices for slaughter pigs have not risen any further since last week. In addition, the piglets that are now being placed will only be ready for slaughter after Christmas. Confidence in the pig price by then is not very high. After all, it cannot be ruled out that pig prices will be lowered by slaughterhouses after the holidays, as has often been the case in recent years, according to the thinking. Export demand for piglets is also weak. Germans are holding back and can moreover shop cheaply in Denmark. Spain is also holding back, according to trade sources. This, incidentally, fits the time of year. For regular groups, prices start at €40 per piglet. For collection groups, prices are somewhat lower. The DCA BestPigletPrice stabilizes this week at €34.50 per piglet. Historically, the piglet price remains stable at this time of year, or there is slight price pressure. An increase is only possible if the pig price also starts moving. At the moment, that is not the case, after the market rose by €0.20 in recent weeks due to slower growth. Supply is rising again Meanwhile, supply is increasing somewhat again, although scarcity remains noticeable in the Dutch market. In Germany, slaughter volumes are likely to rise more quickly in the coming weeks, as Danish Crown will slaughter the surplus in its own country at its German site in Hesse. Meanwhile, sales of pork continue to be difficult. In the domestic market, buyers are struggling with the implemented price increases, while Europe is still facing cheaper pork from Brazil and the United States on export markets in Asia. Based on the quotations, the DCA Beurs Mutatieprijs remains unchanged this week.