UK finished pig prices fall to three-year low

Finished pig prices have fallen by 13p/kg since the start of the year, reaching their lowest levels since the industry backlogs of 2022.

The Standard Pig Price stood at 184.6p/kg in mid-March, almost 20p/kg below the same week last year.

Margins are tightening on farm with average cost of production recently estimated at 190p/kg, putting many producers back in a loss-making position.

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However, lower feed costs throughout the past year have generally helped ease some of the financial strain.

With most pigs now supplied on direct contracts to processors, margins for farm businesses will vary depending on individual agreements.

Finished pigs at auction marts in England and Wales averaged 165p/kg liveweight in March, although this represents a very small percentage of total throughputs with the vast majority of pigs taken directly to abattoirs.

Despite recent falls, the UK pork sector has still generally fared better than counterparts in the EU, where prices have plummeted by 30% since last summer.

EU pig prices fell to the equivalent of 128p/kg in February, but appear to have now turned a corner and averaged 136p/kg in mid-March.

Adam Chowdry, livestock analyst at the AHDB, said: “This recent increase has been largely driven by higher prices in Germany and Spain.

“In Spain, prices have risen to 119p/kg, up 6p/kg from the low point recorded after the African swine fever outbreak at the end of November.

“Germany has also recorded a notable uplift, with prices reaching 144p/kg, an increase of 4p/kg on the previous week.”

Mr Chowdry added that the gap between EU and UK prices peaked at roughly 70p/kg in January, but this has since narrowed to 59p/kg.

A wide price gap between the prices in the UK and on the Continent can lead to greater competition from imports.

However, HMRC trade data showed total UK pigmeat imports in 2025 were actually at their lowest levels since 2021, while exports were up by 3% year-on-year.

Planning constraints for new sheds continue to be a big factor impacting the pork sector, limiting growth and potentially leading to more imports in the future.

The National Pig Association said: “It is becoming increasingly common that the primary barrier to investing in on-farm infrastructure to improve animal health and welfare and environmental impact is the difficulty in obtaining the necessary planning permission.”