Strong Demand Keeps Irish Pig Prices Firm
Irish Pig Prices Show Upward Trajectory Amidst Tight Supplies
IRELAND – May 30, 2025 – Deadweight pig prices in Ireland are demonstrating an upward trend, driven by relatively tight supplies for slaughter, despite a slight dip in reported averages last week.
Producers reported an average price of €2.20/kg available from processors, though some are achieving prices 4c/kg higher, signalling robust demand for pigs. For the week ending May 4th, 2025, the average reported price paid for Grade E pig carcasses in Ireland was €2.11/kg (excluding VAT). This current Irish price is 1.8% lower than the corresponding week last year, when the Grade E pig price stood at €2.15/kg.
Across the European Union, the average price for a Grade E carcass for the same week (ending May 4th, 2025) was €2.05/kg (excluding VAT). This marks a slight increase of 2c/kg from the previous week’s EU average, but remains 6% (14c/kg) behind prices for the same month last year, when the EU average pig price was €2.19/kg.
In terms of throughput, while there has been an improvement in the last quarter, demand continues to outstrip supplies. Total year-to-date throughput stands at 1,164,951 head, marginally behind the corresponding period in 2024. For the week ending May 4th, throughput was 69,578 head, including 1,812 sows. There was a 5% increase in the total throughput of fattener pigs during the first quarter of 2025, indicating growing production despite overall supply constraints.
