Meat prices rise for 3 consecutive months, farmers say they wait all year for this one chance
Morning News (Reporter Xu Nuo) Since the end of last year, meat prices nationwide have continued to rise. The national live pig price has risen for nearly three consecutive months, reaching 17.46 yuan/kg, of which pork prices rose to 25.45 yuan per kg, and piglet prices rose to 26.3 yuan per kg; beef prices rose for thirteen consecutive weeks, and mutton prices rose for eleven consecutive weeks, with average prices of 47.57 yuan and 49.56 yuan per kg respectively, approaching the 50 yuan mark. For farmers and meat sellers, pre-holiday consumption is the best, and even the only, opportunity to make money.
Despite the high meat prices, market demand is still rising. Pork accounts for a very high proportion of meat transactions. According to data provided by the Xinfadi market, with nearly one month still to go before the Spring Festival, the volume of live pigs coming to market has already approached the quantity seen during the peak purchasing period one week before New Year's Day, indicating that before the Spring Festival arrives, market demand for meat is relatively strong. Based on experience from previous years, there is still huge room for market demand to expand, and this is the foundation supporting the rise in meat prices.
“Feed and labor costs have been rising all along, but slaughterhouses and wholesalers refuse to raise their purchase prices, so we are the ones bearing the cost pressure. Now the pressure can be released, so naturally prices have to go up.” According to Mr. Chen, a live pig farmer from Hebei, wholesalers began raising purchase prices before New Year's Day. “Costs are fixed. Raise them a little and you earn a little more. Making just over 100 yuan per pig versus making more than 300 yuan is like night and day.” At present, each pig sent to slaughter from Mr. Chen's farm can bring him a profit of about 340 yuan. “After raising pigs at a loss for more than half a year, now I can finally have a peaceful New Year.” Mr. Chen said with a sigh.
Yang Liqun, who runs a meat wholesale business at the Xinfadi market, told reporters that meat sellers had been weighed down by market demand all year and had finally got their chance. “In the past, if you raised prices, you couldn't sell anything, and if you kept prices flat, you couldn't make money. It was miserable. Now the consumer market is sluggish, and only around the New Year and festivals, when everyone has money and is willing to spend it, do we get a chance to make money.” In recent days, sales at Yang Liqun's shop have increased by 30% compared with usual. In the week before the Spring Festival, sales may be more than double the usual level. “We wait all year for this one chance.” Yang Liqun said with a smile.