Figures released by Danish Statistics at the end of January show the Danish breeding herd numbers to be rising compared to last year.

The Whole Hog shows that total pig numbers were 12.873 million head – an increase of 5.6 per cent year on year. The breeding herd is up by 6.6 per cent on January 2009.

However, the Whole Hog says that the German pig numbers released at the end of last year were 26.6 million head down by 0.4 per cent on the November 2008 census.

The German breeding herd is also down – by 3.5 per cent to 2.2 2 million head. The number of market pigs on the other hand has gone up by 0.3 per cent.

The Whole Hog reports that the latest figures from the Polish Statistical Office (GUS) show a significant increase in the Polish breeding herd numbers.

The November 2009, figures show a 6.4 per cent increase in the number of breeding sows to 1.36 million head.

Total pig numbers in Poland for 2009 were stable at 14.25 million.

Pig Price Cycle Points the Way – Up

The Whole Hog pig price cycle has moved into its upward phase during the first four weeks of 2010.

The rapid change has been driven by events in the North American market. The Whole Hog says that the structural changes in Canada, US cut backs, H1N1 flu in Mexico and the global credit crisis have all played their part in changing the usual price cycle.

In the EU, there are no signs of relief on the pig price front. Only the UK, where prices have been kept up by the exchange rate, and Spain this month showed positive trends.

The Whole Hog says that the continuing falling prices has meant the European Commission has approved special aid for French, Italian, Hungarian and Lithuanian farmers.

Canadian Pork Exports Hold Up

The latest Canadian export figures reported by the Whole Hog show a 2.9 per cent fall on 2008 figures.

The major losses have been to the Russian and Hong Kong markets but there has been growth in trade with the US, Australia and Taiwan.

US exporters are still searching for a change in fortunes and an upward trend.

The latest figures for November 2009 show a 10.3 per cent drop year on year. Total exports for the January to November period were 1.665 million tonnes.

Australia's Trade Gap in Pig Meat Continues to Widen

Australia has seen imports of pig meat grow while exports are continuing to dwindle, despite a fall in both export and import figures for the month of November.

Imports fell by 14 per cent and exports by 17.3 per cent. One of the major beneficiaries in the rise in Australian imports has been Canada, which has seen a 9.5 per cent rise year on year.

The latest figures from Japan show a 14.1 per cent drop in pig meat imports in October 2009.

US exports to Japan during the month fell by 26.3 per cent and total exports from the US in the year are down by 13 per cent, says the Whole Hog.

The major force in the South Korean market at the moment is Chile, according to the Whole Hog report.

Chile is now number three in the Korean market and the Whole Hog believes that if it keeps expanding its market at the current rate, it will soon overtake Canada.

Chile's exports to South Korea have grown by 24 per cent over the last year.

February 2010