Pig prices are steady this week with quotes in the range of €1.60/kg to €1.62/kg. However, throughput is up at the factories with agents keen for all available supplies.

IFA pigs chair Tom Hogan has called on plants to give a price increase.

The kill last week was 72,513 head. One factor behind the increase is the re-approval of Rosderra’s Roscrea plant for export to China.

Demand from China is likely to start rising further in the coming weeks as importers seek to build stocks of frozen product ahead of celebrations of the Chinese new year which will be in mid-February. This will help the trade here and across the EU.

Meanwhile, new movement restrictions are appearing in some EU countries because of the second wave of coronavirus.

This could cause some disruption in general food markets, with restaurants restricted or closing for example.

However, pigmeat held up well in earlier lockdowns, selling strongly in retail, and producers would be hopeful that will continue.