UK pig producer's share of the retail pork price remains at a historical low, but according to AHDB Pork, it increased slightly in June - to 33%.
This was one percentage point higher than May and the highest level of 2016 so far. However, this figure is still two percentage points down on June 2015.
While the farmgate price has continued to rise since March, the retail price remained unchanged from May to June.
Nevertheless, the price received by producers was 9% lower than a year before, while retail prices had fallen by only 4% compared to June 2015.
While the retail prices in June remained unchanged overall, there were small movements in most cuts, with some cheaper and others more expensive.
There were lower prices for boneless shoulder (-2%) and fillet end leg (-3%). Boneless leg, diced and minced pork all increased by 1% each, while prices of loin chops and traditional pork sausages remained static.
Over the longer term, there were mixed trends in prices compared to June 2015. The biggest falls were for boneless shoulder, loin chops and diced pork (each -6%).
Lower falls were recorded for minced pork (-1%) and loin steaks (-2%), while boneless leg remained unchanged on a year ago.
However, the falls offset slightly by increases in the prices of traditional pork sausages (+2%), fillet of pork (+4%) and fillet end leg (+5%).
'Sunshine on the horizon for pig industry'
Now though, there may be light at the end of the tunnel. Stephen Howarth, a market specialist manager at AHDB, said there are signs that things are ‘likely to get better’.
He said the industry would be helped by the fact that the Pound had weakened against the Euro compared to last year.
On top of this he also said that that the European market had stabilised and that consumer demand was starting to rise again.
Looking to the future Stephen said that the industry needed to look at developing new products to draw in the modern consumer.
He also said that the industry needed to work alongside government to open up new export markets similar to the Chinese market in order to add more value to the carcass.
