North of the border, processors are more anxious than in previous weeks with increased quotes offered to some suppliers, with prices ranging from €1.72c/kg up to €1.74c/kg.

Official prices reported to the Department of Agriculture show that prices are 12.5 per cent above the same week last year.

Official prices in Europe remain stable also at €1.75c/kg.

Pig farmers are still expecting the Irish price to rise to at least this level, and more importantly remain in a positive situation for the foreseeable future.

A sustained period of positive margins is required on all pig farms in order to fill the financial holes that were left in 2015/16.

Ireland’s percentage of the EU price has improved and is currently 94 per cent of the EU average price as reported to the EU Commission for the week commencing 12/06/2017.

Factory pig throughput in Republic of Ireland export plants for the week ending 17 June 2017 was 62,282 head which was 9,456 head more than the previous week and 1,822 less than in the corresponding week in 2016.

Slaughtering’s in ROI export plants is -1.0 per cent behind the same period in 2016.

Export Plants: Top prices on a flat rate basis </= 172cent/kg in Karro, </=170 cent/kg in Staunton’s, Dawn, Kepak and Rosderra.

Sows: 95 – 110c/kg DW.

Weekly Slaughterings: Week-ending 17 June 2017 Pigs: 62,282 Sows: 1,698

EU-27 Pigmeat Reference price week commencing 12 June 2017

Irish price €1.66kg

EU–27 average price €1.77kg

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