German Pig Prices Rise After Disruption to Exports, Abattoirs
German pig prices increased this week in their first rise since November, the association of German animal farmers VEZG said on Wednesday.
The market is starting to recover after being hit last year by widespread import bans on German pork after African swine fever (ASF) was found in the country and reduced slaughterhouse capacity after coronavirus outbreaks.
Pig prices rose to 1.21 euros a kg slaughter weight from 1.19, roughly the level since November.
“This is a ray of hope after recent problems, with pork sales to the EU replacing lost exports to Asia and slaughterhouses getting back to more normal working volumes,” one meat trader said.
China and other Asian countries banned German pork imports in September after ASF was found in a wild boar in east Germany, not a farm animal, causing pig prices to fall.
This led to trade displacement, with other EU countries raising exports to China, while German sales to Europe have increased.
Reduced German slaughterhouse capacity also caused pigs to be kept on farms longer than needed, making them too big for standardised slaughtering.
German abattoirs and meat packing plants became COVID-19 hotspots last year, which resulted in a major industry shake-up and improved health standards, but the changes meant German slaughterhouses also reduced capacity.
“In the German slaughterhouse pig market the surplus and (animal) overweight continues to melt away,” the VEZG added. “In some regions, marketing is again normal without problems.”
“But in some areas a surplus supply remains.” (Reporting by Michael Hogan, editing by Barbara Lewis)
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