Pork prices in Ukraine have started to rise again after the winter slowdown, ProAgro Group reports.
According to weekly monitoring by the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders, purchase prices for slaughter pigs this week mostly ranged between UAH 73–74 per kilogram, although slightly lower and higher bids were also recorded. The average market price reached UAH 73.25/kg, which is 2.9% higher than the previous week.
Price differences between regions remain relatively small. Although somewhat higher prices are more often observed in the eastern and southern regions, the gap between regional averages does not exceed UAH 1/kg.
Representatives of the meat processing industry note that trade remains rather slow and competition for buyers is intense, with occasional discounts offered to stimulate sales. However, most market participants expect prices to continue rising.
“The reference level for the next trading rounds is about UAH 75/kg, as this price was actively discussed during recent negotiations and has already appeared in some deals this week,” analysts from the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders noted.
Additional support for the upward trend may come from rising poultry prices and gradual recovery of pork prices in the EU. Market activity is also expected to increase ahead of Easter and with improving weather conditions.
Earlier it was reported that prices for pigs in live weight during the first week of March mostly ranged between UAH 70–71/kg, which was about UAH 3 higher than at the end of February, when seasonal demand for pork declined.
