Brazil: Pig farming: prices found no room for highs in October

more affordable options, such as chicken and eggs. If the population’s income increases consistently, the tendency is for a direct shift from chicken to beef, if pork prices are high. In August, wholesale pork cut prices rose aggressively: the pork carcass traded in the South-Central region increased by almost 15%, while live pigs advanced just over 12%. These levels remained until mid-September, when the industry began to face difficulties in passing on the highs, pressuring margins and intensifying negotiations with producers. Even so, the supply of animals remained under control, supporting prices. On October 30, the average price per kilogram of live pig in the region was BRL 7.89, below the BRL 7.97 registered at the end of September. The average price per kilogram of carcass, on the other hand, fell from BRL 12.61 a month ago to the current BRL 12.38. The availability of pork is tight, mainly due to robust exports, driven by purchases from the Philippines, which have ...