Pig carcase weights and SPP prices steady

The GB EU-spec SPP stood at 198.4p/kg for the week ending 27 August, an increase of 0.34p/kg on the previous week.

This means prices are currently running at more than 41p above the 5-year average and 40p above the price seen at this point last year.

An estimated 167,900 clean pigs were slaughtered during the week, up 7% (11,000 head) on the previous week, but down 4% on the number seen during the same week in 2021. Average carcase weights have fluctuated between 87-88kg over the last seven weeks, averaging 87.89kg in the week ending 27 August, up 460g on the previous week. Despite this, carcase weights were still more than 3kg above the 5-year average.

In the week ending 20 August, the GB EU-spec APP averaged 201.34p/kg, back 0.3p on the previous week. The gap between APP and SPP narrowed to 3.28p.