During the second week of November, prices for slaughter pigs again showed negative dynamics, decreasing by 5%. According to the weekly monitoring of purchase prices conducted by the Association of Ukrainian Pig Producers, prices for carcasses continued to fall, which was a consequence of low demand and high supply of pork on the market.

Prices for slaughter pigs decreased by 2.5–4.5 hryvnias per kilogram over the past week, which was reflected in the general price trend. Thus, at the end of the week, the cost of carcasses fluctuated within 56–58 UAH/kg in all regions of Ukraine, and the average market price stopped at 57.25 UAH/kg, which is 5% less compared to the previous week.

The decrease in prices for slaughter pigs is explained by low activity on the market. Meat processors note that even the reduction in purchase prices did not contribute to the growth of pork sales volumes either in retail chains or in meat processing plants. As suppliers of chilled pork half-carcasses note, the reduction in prices did not have the desired effect in increasing sales volumes, which further emphasizes the problem of low trading activity.

At the same time, the situation on the market is not unambiguous. Some operators continue to work in the usual mode, making planned sales and maintaining stable demand, while others are wary of further changes, in particular in connection with the power outage, which may further reduce trade volumes.

Despite the negative price dynamics, some market participants predict a possible recovery of pork quotations in the near future. They believe that further price declines may not only not stimulate sales, but also “devalue” the remaining products at processors, which threatens significant economic losses for pork producers.

In the long term, the situation on the pork market may cause serious problems for all participants in this sector. In conditions where liveweight prices continue to decline, pork producers may find themselves in a difficult situation, which will require taking urgent measures to stabilize the market.