Guillem Burset

The prices rise in all Europe. In the last market session in March the German price has only grown by €0.07/kg carcass weight, and this conveys firmness and security all over the place.

Since late January until today, the price at Mercolleida has regained €0.066. We could say that the Spanish price is riding a powerful diesel engine that is propelling it upwards inexorably.

Always well-informed economic operators think that the average price in 2017 will not be lower than €1.20/kg, which would not be bad at all.

In 2016 the slaughterings will have been 16% higher that in 2014. Production has grown, and this growth has not been penalised yet.

Both USA and Canada still have an abundance of pigs and very low prices. This great amount of pork must be taken care of, and it will no doubt be at the expense of the European pork.

The USA and Canada persist in having rock bottom prices: €0.91/kg carcass, this is, 40% lower than the European prices.

The heat and the decrease in the supply in Germany have supported the Spanish pig price in September. Europe will only be able to go on with its prices if it can absorb its production and the exports to Asia keep on.

The Spanish pig price chart in August has been completely flat. We are expecting a bear, but not catastrophic, trend in September.

The Spanish price will still exceed €1.30/kg whilst the supply remains restricted. The battle will be held in September, and it will all depend on the foreign markets.

The exports to Asia have drained the stocks and have made all the European prices grow.

All points towards the rise in prices keeping a good pace in the first forthnight of June.

The worst has already passed. We will have to see where our price can get to.

The first two or three weeks of April will be useful for absorbing the delayed pigs, and by the end of April the price will be able to rise, step by step, to more decent levels.

There is a total crisis situation in all Europe.

Spanish abattoirs are slaughtering at their maximum capacity, but nevertheless, several weeks will be needed (probably until late February) to reabsorb the accumulation of delayed pigs.

In order to dream of better prices we must find a bottom from where to rebound. We are very probably there, although Spanish market is, right now, heavier than the German one.