Guillem Burset

China has been buying great volumes of pork cuts in all Europe for a few weeks. The pig price in China has shown a spectacular rise.

It is obvious that the current situation cannot last much, and that a correction will be needed soon: or our European competitors increase their prices or we reduce them.

We think that the price will remain where it is now. We don't exclude any rise: the “beep” of the electrocardiogram, but without a real projection.

China is still buying, but with a great moderation. Either way, the pig price in Spain will still grow. In late May 2019 it exceeds €1.41, and summer has not started yet.

The price of pork in Spain has risen 32% in twelve weeks. Increase in demand from China and the opening of a new slaughterhouse suggest further rises.

The rise in pork price is being so intense and important that the processing sector will have to make a superhuman effort and transfer the rises in price to the final product as soon as possible.

Guillem Burset foresees a very profitable 2019, but not for all the actors in the Spanish pig sector.

The relationship between the farmer and the abattoir, daily and passionate most of the time, ends up creating a bond. Its quality will, undoubtedly, be put to the test in Spain.

The cornerstone of the Spanish pig sector is the extreme efficiency of its abattoirs and cutting rooms.

Ending the year with a price similar to that of the cost price and with a more than significant growth in production can only be considered as excellent.

The almost mimetic similarity between the Spanish price curve in 2015 and 2018 ends here and now. We think that it is completely impossible that the decrease in price reaches €0.95, like then.

The appearance of ASF in Belgium has entailed a real blow for the EU pig sector.

Right now it all depends on the evolution of the situation in China.

In Iberia, pig prices have reached this year’s peak. Now, prices can only drop… The evolution of prices is very similar to that in 2015.

Which of the two views is more appropriate for understanding the ins and outs of the global pig market?

Every week a new price is set that reflects a momentary and unstable but necessary and essential balance.