Pork prices fall and profits thin out, pig farmers hold back sales and wait
As the season for smoking cured meat and stuffing sausages approaches, the pork market will also welcome the year-end sales peak. Yesterday, data provided by the Municipal Agricultural Information Center showed that last week the average retail price of pork in our city fell 3% from the previous period, and some of our city'spig farminghouseholds' profits were affected and began holding back stock (delaying the time pigs are sent to market) to wait and see. Relevant personnel analyzed that although the sales peak around the Spring Festival will push up meat prices, the probability of a sharp rise is relatively small.
Pork retail price falls 3% from the previous period
"Compared with September, the current pig slaughter price has fallen by about 4 yuan per kg." Yesterday, a meat seller at Xuetianwan Vegetable Market told reporters that yesterday the pig slaughter price fell to 21.2-22 yuan per kg. Affected by this, the prices of lean meat and three-layer meat at the market have now fallen back to about 28 yuan per kg.
"In the past three weeks, meat prices in the market have mainly been stable with a slight decline." The person in charge of the Shihui Shi Vegetable Market management office said that as meat prices have continued to fall recently, the market's daily pork sales volume has also slightly rebounded. "When meat prices were at their highest in September, the market's daily pork sales volume was less than 60 head, but now it is stable at more than 70 head per day." The person in charge said.
Statistics from the Municipal Agricultural Information Center yesterday showed that last week the prices of lean-type pigs, piglets and pork ribs in our city were 18.17 yuan/kg, 28.57 yuan/kg and 31.41 yuan/kg respectively, down 2.65%, 2.99% and 2.55% from the previous period. Among them, the average retail price of pork in the main urban area fell about 3% from the previous period. "The rebound in the number of pigs sent to slaughter is the main reason for the decline in pork prices." The person in charge of the Market Information Division of the Municipal Agricultural Information Center said.
One pig earns four to five hundred less
For pig farmers, falling meat prices naturally affect their profits. "Now, after deducting costs such as feed, labor, water and electricity, we earn only 0.6-0.8 yuan per kg." Xu Qiang, person in charge of Xiangda Pig Farm in Banan District, told reporters that in September, when the price at which pigs were sent to market was at its highest, selling one pig could earn at least 5 yuan per kg. Li Hailin, owner of Fuling Hailin Pig Development Co., Ltd., said that selling one pig now earns four to five hundred less than when meat prices were high in September.
"Profits are discounted, and with the year-end pork sales peak approaching, many farmers in our town have begun holding back stock to wait and see." Xu Qiang revealed to reporters that his own farm alone is keeping more than 200 pigs, preparing to send them to market for sale only when prices rebound during the peak season. "Every year at the end of the year, farmers have a period of holding back stock, but compared with previous years, farmers are more inclined to wait and see this year." Xu Qiang revealed.
"In addition to ensuring normal sales, my farm still has nearly 1,000 pigs waiting to be sent to market when the peak-season market warms up somewhat." Li Hailin, a major pig farmer in Fuling District, said that residents making cured meat will soon increase in number, and there is room for pork prices to rebound.
Probability of a sharp meat price rise in peak season is small
"From the current situation, the number of pigs entering the market has declined somewhat compared with the same period last year." Xu Gang, deputy general manager of Huamu Meat Industry Branch, said that at this time last year, the number of pigs entering the company's slaughterhouse daily was more than 4,000 head, while it is currently 3,000 head per day. However, Xu Gang said that since the beginning of this year, the number of pigs entering the slaughterhouse has remained stable and can meet pork consumption demand in the main urban area.
Immediately afterward, reporters also learned from departments such as the Municipal Commerce Commission and the Municipal Agriculture Commission that, together with measures such as pork transferred in from outside and timely restocking, pork supply in our city is currently relatively sufficient. "Around the Spring Festival, the possibility of a sharp rise in meat prices in our city is not great." A relevant person in charge of the Market Information Department of the Municipal Agricultural Information Center analyzed that every year at the year-end pork sales peak, meat prices rebound somewhat. However, around the Spring Festival, as pigs restocked earlier gradually enter the market, the momentum for consumption to drive pork prices will not be very strong. "How much prices rebound will still depend on the specific pig supply situation at that time." The person in charge said.