January 17, 2013

Ireland's limited supply of pig lifts prices

Irish pig producers are bound for a good year as tighter supplies drive pig meat prices up.

The US and Canada are both forecasting record pork prices for 2013 due to falling pig numbers, David Owens of Bord Bia told the Meat Market Prospects Seminar.

Owens predicted that European production could be back by 2-3% and that this should be reflected in higher prices. He pointed out that the Irish sow herd had fallen by 7% or 7,000 head during 2012, and now stood at 150,000 head.

Irish exports in 2012 grew by 5% in volume terms to 180,000 tonnes, and by 16% in value to EUR457 million (US$607 million).