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According to "Short-term outlook for EU agricultural markets in 2018 and 2019", EU pigmeat prices were below the last four-year average in January-August 2018 (-7 %), remaining around EUR 145/100 kg between March and mid-August, when they rose as supply tightened after the very hot summer slowed animal growth and delayed slaughterings.
Prices will remain under pressure, as production is still expected to increase by the end of the year, while much will depend on trade developments in the face of current uncertainties. Additional pressure will come from the historically low prices for exports from the EU’s main competitors (USA, Brazil and Canada).
The piglet price hovered around the last four-year average until May, when it began a sharp seasonal decline to well below average levels, partly pushed by low pigmeat prices, which have discouraged fatteners. Only at the end of the summer did the decrease come to a halt, at around EUR 37 (23 % below last year’s level).
EU consumption of pigmeat is expected to grow in 2018, to 32.5 kg per capita, as production grows more than exports, and decline in 2019, to 32.3 kg per capita, as production adjusts to price signals.
October 2018/ DG-Agri/ Short-term outlook for EU agricultural markets in 2018 and 2019/ European Union.
https://ec.europa.eu
