Q4 2008: Marked Drop in Pig Meat Production

Slaughter and meat production

The number of slaughtered pigs went down by 14 per cent and their average carcass weight also decreased by 1.1 per cent. As a result, pig meat production went down by 14.9 per cent.

Producers' pig for slaughter price

Agricultural producers' price of pigs for slaughter rose by 9.5 per cent compared to 2007. The average price of the S, E and U-quality pigs for slaughter reached CZK 31.85 per kilogram in live weight and CZK 40.63 per kilogram in carcass weight.

Overall meat production, price quotations and foreign trade

Pig meat production went down by 7 per cent compared to 2007. The production kept on decreasing in all quarters of the year. The fourth quarter saw the highest decline in meat production (by 14.9 per cent). Most of all, the decrease in pig meat production affected a decrease in total pig meat production.

There was a year-on-year increase in agricultural producers' prices for slaughter pigs from April to the end of the year. The highest price level was reached in June (Index 112.6 per cent). The average price of pigs for slaughter rose by 4.8 per cent in 2008 compared to 2007. The average price of the S, E, U-quality pigs for slaughter reached CZK 30.39 per kilogram in live weight and CZK 39.35 per kilogram in carcass weight.

According to the preliminary outputs of foreign trade statistics, trade in live pigs ended in surplus of 2,777 tonnes during 1 December 2007 to 30 November 2008. Imports of live pigs (for slaughter and piglets) amounted to 11,514 tonnes and exports totaled 14,291 tonnes. Pig imports almost doubled by 5,543 tonnes whereas exports went down by 10.0 per cent (1,612 tonnes). Pigs were imported predominantly from Germany (40 per cent), the Netherlands (30 per cent), Denmark (21 per cent) and Austria (8 per cent). Imports went primarily to Slovakia (61 per cent), Hungary (18 per cent) and Germany (12 per cent).

Foreign trade in pig meat production ended in passive trade balance (-112,526 tonnes). While imports in total amounted to 146,312 tonnes, exports totaled 33,786 tonnes of meat. Imports of pig meat increased by 12.6 per cent (that is, 16,316 tonnes) and exports went up by 23.1 per cent. Pigmeat was imported primarily from Germany (47 per cent), Austria (15 per cent), and to a lesser extent, from Poland (8 per cent), Spain (7 per cent) and the Netherlands (7 per cent). Majority of exports were to Slovakia (84 per cent) and to a lesser amount to Germany (6 per cent).