Bord Bia upbeat about Irish pig market conditions

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  Andrea Gantz

  Bord Bia spokeman Peter Duggan is upbeat about the direction producer pig prices in Ireland are going.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Strengthening European pig prices may help to stabilize farm gate returns in Ireland, according to Bord Bia pigmeat manager Peter Duggan.
  “Producer pig prices have started to increase in Germany over the past number of weeks,” he said.
  “And this is a reflection of the fact that supplies are starting to tighten in that country. The June 2014 census confirmed a 1 percent increase in the German breeding herd. However, the comparable figure for November indicated that sow numbers had stabilized. This would indicate that EU pig farmers are starting to destock, which should move the overall supply-demand equation more firmly in the direction of stronger market conditions.”
  Duggan said that the continuing growth in pork export sales to China and other Asian countries, particularly Japan, is further good news for the pig industry and pig prices in Ireland.
  Russian ban could end without warning
  The Bord Bia representative surmised that Russia’s ban on EU food imports could end without warning, which could also affect pig prices in Ireland.
  “This remains a very complex issue. There was speculation some weeks back that individual countries, including France and Germany, were prepared to sort out their own trade deals with Moscow.
  “But this came to nothing. Overarching the trade embargo issue is Russia’s refusal to accept EU pork imports on swine fever grounds. However, efforts are being made to have this issue addressed on a regional issue. Ireland, for example, is free of the disease.”