Rabobank's five-nation finished hog price index averages 151 in 2013, up 10% from 2012 and the highest level in last five years; price outlook for global pork market steady for Q1, Q2

Nevin Barich

Nevin Barich

NEW YORK , January 30, 2014 (press release) – Industry Positive as Declining Feed Costs Lift Farmers’ Margins

Rabobank has published a new report on the global pork industry, reviewing the generally positive state of the industry in 2013 and looking ahead at factors affecting supply, demand and prices in 2014.

In the report, the bank’s Food & Agribusiness Research team says that the global pork industry had a generally good year in 2013, with the Rabobank five-nation finished hog price index averaging 151, an increase of 10% over 2012, and the highest level in the last five years. Rabobank says the price outlook for the global pork market for the remainder of Q1 2014 and into Q2 2014 is steady. In combination with lower feed costs, this will be positive for farmers’ margins, despite the unknown impact of porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDv) in the U.S., Canada and Mexico markets.

“The main wildcard in the global market this quarter is the effect of PEDv outbreaks in North America and what this means to pork production in and export from this region this year,” said Rabobank analyst Albert Vernooij. “Rabobank expects the impact in the U.S. to be more severe than forecast by the USDA and believes it will likely hamper U.S. pork production growth into 2014. This might also pressure U.S. export volumes, presenting opportunities for the other exporters.”

PEDv outbreaks in Central and Northwest Mexico began around the third quarter of 2013; during the week of January 20, 2014, the first official cases of PEDv were confirmed in Canada’s main pork production region, Manitoba. Given Canada’s position as the third largest exporter of pork, behind the U.S. and EU, PEDv will limit the amount of pork available to the global trade in the next 12 to 18 months. By comparison, the Mexican pork industry remains optimistic, provided PEDv is satisfactorily controlled. This year, the Mexican government launched a new programme to increase the swine inventory through genetic improvements and improve pork meat quality to increase exports.

Elsewhere, pork imports in Japan dropped 10.9% from January to November, mainly due to the depreciation of the Yen, while the Korean pork market has returned to the situation before the devastating swine fever outbreak, which started in April 2009. Lower imports combined with stabilizing domestic production in the second half of 2013 have supported price recovery in Korea, which will likely continue in 2014 due to the 5.8% YOY drop in the sow inventory in Q3 2013.

In the EU, Rabobank expects a positive first half in 2014. Lower feed costs and continued elevated price levels will support the recovery of farmers’ margins after the lows experienced in the first half of 2013. This is due to a slightly increased EU pork production supported by continually strong productivity growth, and stable to slightly higher consumption and exports. The latter might perform even better than expected if the impact of PEDv in the U.S. is larger than currently estimated.

In the long term, the main question will be how farmers globally will react to the lower feed costs and the scale of industry expansion that will follow. In light of the margin pressure most farmers have endured in recent years, Rabobank expects global pork production growth to be measured and in line with demand. At the same time, steadily growing production in China and Russia and strengthening will limit export growth potential for traditional suppliers.

Rabobank’s report on the global pork industry is available to media upon request.

Rabobank Group is a global financial services leader providing wholesale and retail banking, leasing, real estate services, and renewable energy project financing. Founded over a century ago, Rabobank is one of the largest banks in the world, with nearly $1 trillion in assets and operations in more than 40 countries. In North America, Rabobank is a premier bank to the food, beverage and agribusiness industry. Rabobank’s Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory team is comprised of more than 80 analysts around the world who provide expert analysis, insight and counsel to Rabobank clients about trends, issues and developments in all sectors of agriculture. www.rabobank.com/f&a

BW-image© 2024 Business Wire, Inc., All rights reserved.

Share:

About Us

We deliver market news & information relevant to your business.

We monitor all your market drivers.

We aggregate, curate, filter and map your specific needs.

We deliver the right information to the right person at the right time.

Our Contacts

1990 S Bundy Dr. Suite #380,
Los Angeles, CA 90025

+1 (310) 553 0008

About Cookies On This Site

We collect data, including through use of cookies and similar technology ("cookies") that enchance the online experience. By clicking "I agree", you agree to our cookies, agree to bound by our Terms of Use, and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. For more information on our data practices and how to exercise your privacy rights, please see our Privacy Policy.