German Pig Prices Plunge, Adding Pressure on Polish Producers
The VEZG exchange in Germany has cut its recommended pig price to 1.32 euros per kilogram, down 8 euro cents in a week. Polish slaughterhouses have cut prices by less, but farmers say production is unprofitable.
The VEZG exchange, run by a German pig marketing association, lowered its recommended price for slaughter pigs on Wednesday to 1.32 euros per kilogram for pigs with 57% lean meat content. That is 8 euro cents less than a week earlier, equivalent to a drop of roughly 35–40 groszy in Polish currency. The decision matters for Poland because a matching correction in Polish slaughterhouse price lists was widely expected.
So far, Polish buying prices have fallen by less than the German quotations would suggest. According to the agricultural portal Farmer.pl, rates are about 10 groszy lower than a week ago. For class E pigs, slaughterhouses currently offer 5.60–6.10 zlotys per kilogram net, with an average of around 5.80 zlotys. Live pigs are priced at about 4.30 zlotys per kilogram net on average, in a range of 3.90–4.80 zlotys.
Farmers' position
The portal says that at these prices, profitable production is not possible. Feed costs add to the problem: prices of feed grains and extracted meals have recently risen. Farmers who did not stock up in the summer now face higher purchase costs.
No improvement is yet in sight. Some voices suggest a slight revival ahead of the holiday season, but the source notes that this seasonal effect has not been visible for years. Producers are therefore left to wait for better times, with no clear indication of when they will arrive.
