March 23, 2005

2005 US hog/pig imports from Canada down 15.4 percent vs year-ago

The US Department of Agriculture's livestock import reports show that the number of hogs and pigs imported from Canada through the first 10 weeks of the year is down 15.4 percent from the same period in 2004.

Feeder pigs account for the majority of the reduction in the total number of swine imports from Canada so far this year compared with a year ago. The 2005 figure as of the week-ended March 12 is 973,891 head, down 169,626. Barrows and gilts for slaughter are down about 100,000 head through the first 10 weeks, while sows, boars and all other hogs are down about 2,600 head.

Feeder pig imports are averaging slightly under 97,390 head per week in 2005. Imports of feeder pigs during the final two months of 2004 averaged 94,200 head, but during the previous 10 months the average was more than 108,000 per week.

The decline in feeder pig imports affects slaughter-ready supplies four to five months forward. Most of the feeder pigs imported in November and December reached slaughter weight by February through March.

Industry sources said most of the decline in swine imports from Canada is due to anti-dumping duties that were imposed by the US Department of Commerce in late October. The department recently upheld its earlier finding but did lower the duty rates.

The reduced feeder pig imports affect the number of hogs in finishing houses in the US, so they also influence the government's quarterly data for all hogs and pigs as well as its kept-for-marketing figures.

The USDA's quarterly hog report will be released on Thursday at 2 p.m. CST (2000 GMT).