April 11, 2013
BPEX Export Bulletin- 5 April 2013 (Week 14)
In 2012, the EU exported 3.130 million tonnes of pork, down 2% on the year. The main difference was smaller shipments to Russia, falling from 847,000 tonnes to 745,000 tonnes. Exports to Korea and Belarus are also down by 56,000 and 20,000 tonnes respectively. All other markets are performing satisfactorily. Product availability is likely to be an issue this year as production is expected to fall by 5.2% in the second half.
Denmark
Brørup benefits from the demise of Jutland Meat
Brørup, the Tönnies subsidiary, is increasing its slaughter to 30,000 pigs per week as the closure of Jutland Meat creates more space on the market. (Source, Boerderij Vandaag)
Delay in phasing out castration
Delay in phasing out castration
Danish agriculture may not be able to phase out the castration of piglets by the end 2014 as planned. The reason for the delay is an unusually complicated matter, says Per Olsen, head of veterinary policy at the Danish Agriculture and Food Council, . He believes that the phasing out will take place in 2018 at the earliest, in connection with a declaration at EU level. The plan for the phasing out of castrations was made in 2009. (Source, Politiken)
Market
The European markets are stable. Domestic and export demand for legs is fine,whereas export demand for loins and bellies has been slower. The bacon market in the UK remained stable.
|
Danish Slaughterhouses - payments week commencing 01 April 2013 | ||
|
Slaughterhouse |
Danish Crown |
Tican |
|
Slaughter pigs (70.0 - 86.9 kg) |
Euro 1.466 |
Euro 1.466 |
|
Difference to last week |
unchanged |
unchanged |
|
Sows (Above 129.9 kg) |
Euro 1.026 |
Euro 1.026 |
|
Difference to last week |
unchanged |
unchanged |
|
Boars (Above 109.9 kg) |
Euro 0.894 |
Euro 0.894 |
|
Difference to last week |
unchanged |
unchanged |
France
French paradox
According to Beuc (European Union of Consumers), 50 to 77% of consumers want to see the origin of their food mentioned on labels. It appears that VPF (Viande Porcine Française) logo does not currently benefit from this opportunity. Compared with June 2012, December figures show that the mention of country of origin (VPF or EU) decreased by 1.2% for retailers' own brands, by 4.1% for national brands and by 4.71% for economy ranges. Further along the chain, 80% of fresh pork is labeled whereas for prepared meals, only 4.3% of own brand products and 13.8% of national brands are labeled. In short, Beuc would like to stop the mention of "British" on sausages made with Danish pork.
BDPORC
The professional pig movement database in France launched a new tool named "planned slaughterings". This tool allows the consultation of quality and sanitary indicators by abattoirs. The first version of the tool allows the consultation of QT indicators (Ex VPF v9) and VPF v10 (standard "charcutiers" pigs and sows) from referenced abattoirs, other indicators will be added.
French nose
As literature available on the subject is quite restricted, Bigard decided to test the impact of non-castration on the boar taint of pork using smell. A group of employees were trained to detect boar taint by smell. A sample of 4,800 young pigs were tested, including 750 castrated males. Boar taint was detected in 4% of the carcases of the non-castrated pigs. False negatives were also detected through a second test. The "smelly" pork was processed into a large range of charcuterie products which were also tested. As expected, a large proportion of lardons (quite fatty) expressed a strong smell as did a good number of cooked ham batches which was surprising as cooked ham only contains 3% fat. Finally, coarse ground sausages, which can contain a high concentration of androsterone (in saliva glands), were tested by a tasting panel. The taste of these sausages was defined unacceptable, even when 50% and up to 80% of meat from females was added during the charcuterie process. Only a Tex-Mex version masked the smell and taste.
Porc du Sud-Ouest gets recognition
Pork produced in the 17 departements of Southwest France by 1,300 producers now benefit from PGI. The production is linked to the dry-cured Bayonne ham. (Source, Porc Magazine)
Market
Pigs
Over the latest bank holiday (Easter), European prices remained unchanged. Offers in breeding remained limited everywhere in Europe. Demand has been stable. At the beginning of the month, demand may improve with the possibility of increased market activity over the coming days.
Piglets
Due to a good demand with limited offers, prices remained stable. This tendency should continue during the beginning of April.
|
Pork prices RUNGIS week commencing 01 April 2013 | |
|
Cut name |
Price range (Euro/Kg) |
|
Back fat, rind-on |
0.65 |
|
Trimmings |
1.46 |
|
Leg |
2.27 |
|
Loin including chump |
2.92 |
|
Loin excluding chump |
2.67 |
|
Belly extra without trimmings |
2.72 |
Germany
Pig price rising trends
The long term trend points to prices rising steadily from 2003 when they hit a low of US$1.61 to US$2.22 in 2012. More recently, prices remain stable slightly below this figure as the cold weather is dampening demand. (Source, AFZ)
Tönnies' data
Tönnies' data
Currently Rheda-Wiedenbrück slaughters 150,000 pigs per week, and employs 5,800 staff. Tönnies' main new project is in Russia. It produces and processes 800,000 pigs per year. (Source, Vlees Magazine)
|
Pork prices Hamburg Market Week commencing 01 April 2013 | |
|
Cut name |
Price range (Euro/Kg) |
|
Round cut leg |
2.30/2.50 |
|
Leg (boneless, rindless max fat level 3mm |
3.15/3.30 |
|
Boneless Shoulder |
2.50/2.70 |
|
Picnic Shoulder |
2.00/2.20 |
|
Collar |
2.50/2.65 |
|
Belly (bone in, ex-breast) |
2.40/2.60 |
|
Sheet Boned Belly (rindless) |
2.25/2.55 |
|
Jowl |
1.60/1.75 |
|
Half Pig Carcasses U class. |
2.02/2.10 |
Netherlands
ForFarmers record year
In 2012, the feed giant, ForFarmers, produced 6.3 million tonnes of feed, worth US$86.3 million and registered profits of US$69.7 million. The company now employs more people in the UK than the Netherlands, says CEO Bert-Jan Ruumpol. (Source, Boerderij Vandaag)
Ibericus concept in Amsterdam
Ibericus concept in Amsterdam
The Catalan company has opened its first shop outside Spain. It sells mainly Iberian hams. The shop has a 24-seater tasting restaurant and claims 1,200 customers each week. (Source, Vlees Magazine)
Spain
|
Pork prices Barcelona Market Week commencing 01 April 2013 | |
|
Cut Name |
Price range (Euro/Kg) |
|
Gerona Loin Chops |
2.58/2.61 |
|
Loin Eye Muscle |
3.53/3.56 |
|
Spare Ribs |
2.98/3.01 |
|
Fillets |
5.46/5.46 |
|
Round Cut Legs |
2.83/2.86 |
|
Cooked Ham |
2.50/2.53 |
|
Rindless Picnic Shoulder |
1.75/1.78 |
|
Belly |
2.46/2.52 |
|
Smoked Belly with Spare Rib Section Cut off |
2.92/2.95 |
|
Shoulder chap or Head Jowls |
1.18/1.21 |
|
Back Fat, Rindless |
0.93/0.96 |
USA
New COOL regulations
USDA is proposing a more stringent country of origin labelling (COOL) rules for meat sold in US retail stores (almost in defiance of the WTO ruling that said existing label rules discriminated unfairly against traditional import trade from Canada and Mexico for both live animals and meat products). The current period for "Public Comment" may arouse vehement protests. If Canada was to adopt the same COOL rules, it would thwart the important US beef export trade into Canada and undoubtedly hurt US cattle prices. A solution would be to scrap all current proposals and adopt a "North America" label for all US retail sales of fresh meats originating from the three nations, whose livestock industries have long been closely integrated. (Source, various)
Russia
Rejected consignment from Portugal
During the inspection of a consignment of pig fat imported to St. Petersburg from Portugal, Rosselkhoznadzor detected discrepancies in the date of production indicated on the packaging and the date indicated on the veterinary certificate. The consignment was rejected. (Source, meatinfo.ru)
Quarantine introduced in the Northern Ossetia
Quarantine has been introduced in two regions of the Northern Ossetia (Ardonsiy and Alahirskiy) after cases of ASF were registered on 27 March. All pigs on the affected farm have been slaughtered. (Source, meainfo.ru)
Foot and Mouth in Zabaykalskiy
The Ministry of Emergency reported that new outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease were registered in the Zabaikalskiy region. (RIA Novosti)
Belarus
Import restrictions
Following ASF outbreaks, the Veterinary and Food Surveillance Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Belarus banned imports of pork, live pigs, processed pork, pig skins and offal from the Northern Ossetia and Krasnodarsiy Krai districts of Russia. The import of equipment for breeding, slaughter and processing of pigs is also banned. (Source, PigUa.info)
China
Ractopamine control
From 1 March, all US pork exports must be independently tested for ractopamine. US pork exports to Mainland China and Hong Kong were down 11% in 2012.
(Source, Asian Pork)
Major expansion for Truein
The Truein Group plans to invest US$912.3 million in Zhaonan City, Jilin, to set up a pork production base. (Source, CNAgri)
Yorun plunges in the red
The Hong Kong listed company posted losses of US$80 million, an unusual occurrence with a major Chinese pork processor. Turnover declined by 17% to U$3.53 billion. (Source, Forbes)
Pig price
In week commencing 1 April, the Chinese wholesale pork price collected from 36 markets in medium and large cities averaged US$3.16/kg, down 1% on the week. (Source, BOAC Ltd)
Taiwan
Still no to US pork
The country intends to keep its ban on US pork where ractopamine is present. US exports were down a third in 2012. (Source, Asian Pork)
Thailand
Paktai Group to expand
Paktai Group to expand
The Thai pork and poultry group, led by founder, Arpha Narmkerd, ranks third in Southern Thailand behind CP and Betagro. They are aiming to operate their own abattoir with a decision expected in Q2. They also plan to build their brand offer and operate retail stores as their competitors do. They work with 500, mainly small contracted farms, and are using Finnor genetics. They do not produce their own feed. (Source, Asian Pork)
Philippines
CPF invests
Charoen Pokphand (CPF) plans to invest US$175 million over the next three years in pig, poultry and aquaculture production. Local producers are protesting against the government regarding the financial support afforded to CPF, which amounts to unfair competition. (Source, various)
