More Declines in US Market Pigs (January 2011)

By Chris Harris, Editor-in -Chief, ThePigSite. Our snapshot of the ongoing global pig industry trends as reported in January 2011 Whole Hog Brief. To read the full detailed analysis including all the commentary and graphical data, subscribe to the publication.
calendar icon 14 January 2011
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The latest US census records a drop in hog and pig numbers in the US of 1.2 per cent compared to 2.6 per cent a year ago, according to the latest issue of Whole Hog.

The breeding herd was also down, by 0.9 per cent and the number of market pigs fell by 0.8 per cent but the Whole Hog reports that this is a vast improvement on the figures from the last census.

In Europe, the Whole Hog says that the German breeding herd and pig numbers are stable.

The total number of pigs in Germany is 26.87 million according to the latest census, just 0.1 per cent up on the census in November 2009.

The breeding herd is reported to be 2.23 million.

New Peak of 2011 Pig Price Cycle Looks in Reach

The Whole Hog says that the New Year has opened on a positive note for exporters.

The global pig price cycle has moved up and the Whole Hog says that if the momentum carries on, the price cycle could break through the 2005 peak.

Globally, pig meat production grew by just one per cent in 2010 to 107 million tonnes, the second poorest growth in a decade.

Production is down in both the EU and US and only China is showing any significant growth in Asia, the Whole Hog says.

In China, production is up by two per cent to 50 million tonnes.

The Whole Hog says that the FAO reports that weather conditions have affected grain stocks and it is posing the question of whether the world is heading for another food crisis.

The immediate effect of high feed prices has been to cut the expansion in pig production, which will firm up the market as supplies become tight, the Whole Hog says.

In Europe, there have been three consecutive months when pig prices have been up.

However, the Whole Hog warns that another month will show whether this is a trend and in the next month, Europe will also see what effect the dioxin scare in Germany has had on the market.

In the Euro-zone, the average price for pigs has risen by 5.5 per cent over the year to reach €139.25 per 100kg.

Canadian Trade Pattern Shifts

Canada's pork exporting companies have been shifting their focus.

While exports between January and October last year grew by 3.9 per cent, trade has been falling to markets such as Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea, but have been growing to the USA, Japan, Mexico, Russia, China and the Philippines.

For the US, however, exports are failing to show a solid recovery.

The October figures show a one per cent fall in exports compared to October 2009, but the year-to-date figure of 1.522 million tonnes is up by 1.9 per cent.

The Whole Hog says that US exporters will be lucky to show a two per cent rate of growth for the full year.

The Australian trade balance is continuing to improve – slightly – with imports declining and exports either level or starting to rise.

In October, Australia exported 3,001 tonnes of pig meat worth A$9 million, a rise of nine per cent on October 2009.

Japanese pig meat imports have grown in the first nine months of 2010, with Canada making the most significant gains.

Canadian pig meat imports increased by 11 per cent on 2009 and imports of US pig meat are up by 4.8 per cent.

However, the Whole Hog reports that pork imports to South Korea to October last year have fallen across the board by 2.4 per cent.

The US has seen the greatest decline – down by 14 per cent – but is still the number one exporter of pig meat to South Korea. Canadian imports are down by five per cent, Danish imports are down by nine per cent and Chilean imports down by 0.3 per cent

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