A number of plants have reduced their quotes below €1.70c/kg but that price is still being paid for a large number of pigs and a few deals up to €1.74c/kg being paid for spot loads and lighter pigs.

The Irish pig price had raced well ahead of the EU pig market since the beginning of the year, but a clear rise in pig prices is clearly evident across Europe.

The pig price in the UK is in excess of €1.80c/kg today, and the UK is the destination for over 50 per cent of Irish pigmeat exports.

Similarly, large pork producer nations such as Denmark and Germany have increased pig prices over the last two weeks.

Sentiment across the EU is very positive with continuing demand from China for large volume of pigmeat and a contracting EU sow herd in 2016.

Ireland’s percentage of the EU price has improved and is currently 105 per cent of the EU average price as reported to the EU Commission for the week commencing 13 March 2017.

Factory pig throughput in Republic of Ireland export plants for the week ending 18 March 2017 was 51,534 head which was 11,678 head less than the previous week and 206 less than in the corresponding week in 2016.

Slaughtering’s in ROI export plants is -2.5 per cent behind the same period in 2016.

Export Plants: Top prices on a flat rate basis </= 170cent/kg in Karro and Dawn, </=168 cent/kg in Kepak, </=166 cent/kg in Staunton’s and Rosderra.

Pork Slaughters: The price range is </=160 cent/kg.

Sows: 95 – 100c/kg DW.

Weekly Slaughterings: Week-ending 18 March 2017 Pigs: 51,534 Sows: 1,705

EU-27 PIGMEAT REFERENCE PRICE WK COMMENCING 13 March 2017

Irish price €1.64kg

EU–27 average price €1.56kg

(Grade E pigs – 55 per cent to 60 per cent lean meat excluding VAT but including transport and bonuses).