Weekly Pig Prices and Slaughter Data Analysis for Great Britain
The European Union-spec Standard Pig Price (SPP) for Great Britain has experienced fluctuations at the beginning of 2025, following a period of stability towards the end of 2024. The SPP dropped by 0.85p for the second consecutive week, reaching 204.58p/kg during the week ended January 11. This marked a departure from the narrow band of 206.1-206.61p/kg that the SPP had maintained from November to late December. The recent decline has pushed the SPP below 205p/kg for the first time since January 2023, with the current level standing 8.5p lower than the same week in 2024, although it remains relatively high in historical terms.
In contrast to the SPP, the All Pigs Price (APP), which includes premium pigs, saw a rebound by gaining 0.66p after a 1.76p loss in the previous week. The APP stood at 207.72p/kg during the week ended January 4, narrowing the gap to the SPP to just 2.29p for that week. Price declines were observed in several EU countries, with Germany leading the way with a 10 euro-cents drop. Additionally, the EU reference price (S-grade) decreased by 1.8p during the week ended January 5, reaching 162.53p/kg. This widened the gap to the equivalent UK reference price to nearly 44p, more than double the difference seen for most of the previous year.
The estimated number of pig slaughterings in Great Britain for the week ended January 11 totaled 161,455 head, which was 6,000 more than the same period in 2024 but 3,000 fewer than in 2023. These figures are subject to revision as more data becomes available. Carcass weights showed an increase, averaging 91.73 kg in the SPP sample for the week ended January 11, an uptick of 0.29kg compared to the previous week. This rise follows a period where weights dipped to just over 88kg before Christmas as pigs were brought forward, resulting in carcass weights that were 1.4kg higher than a year ago.
In terms of market trends, London feed wheat futures were quoted by AHDB on January 15 at £180/t for January and £185/t for March, indicating stability in feed prices for pig producers. For a visual representation of the weekly price graphs, interested parties can visit the Pig World website by clicking on the provided link.
Overall, the recent movements in pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain reflect the broader market dynamics and external factors impacting the industry. While the SPP has shown some volatility in the early weeks of 2025, the APP has demonstrated resilience, highlighting the diversity within the pig market. As the year progresses, stakeholders will continue to monitor these indicators closely to assess the ongoing performance of the sector and make informed decisions based on the latest data available.