EU weaner prices fluctuating after strong increase in Q1

By Bethan Wilkins

Weaner prices across the EU have fluctuated a little in recent weeks, following a period of strong increases in the first quarter of the year. The average EU weaner price currently stands at €53.77/head for week ending 20 June, which is almost €17/head more than at the start of the year and over €3/head above last year’s levels. Since the middle of April, there has been some volatility in prices, with levels dropping back from a peak of €56.65/head to €51.76/head in mid-May. However, some of these losses have since been recovered.

It is typical for weaner prices to increase at the start of the year before easing back across the summer. Although we saw particularly strong price growth in early 2021, the recent levelling off suggests that confidence in improvement of the finished pig market is no longer so strong. It will be interesting to see where prices move in the coming weeks. A typical seasonal pattern would mean prices slowly decline into the autumn. If the market remains supported, this would indicate weaner supplies are tight, suggesting a more confident outlook for upcoming finished pig prices. Although the EU average finished pig price has gained €35/100kg since the start of the year, it the latest week it dropped by over €2/100kg.

There has been variation in weaner prices in the leading producing states between the end of March and late June. A general upward trend has been seen in Denmark and France, lending support to the EU average price. Meanwhile, Germany has recorded largely stable prices. Spain, and to a lesser extent the Netherlands, have both been on a steady declining trend in recent months.

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