Steiner and Company produces the Profit Maximizer report on behalf of National Pork Board based on information we believe is accurate and reliable. However neither NPB nor Steiner and Company warrants or guarantees the accuracy of or accepts any liability for the data, opinions or recommendations expressed.
Highlights
- Hog slaughter was lower last week as snowstorms disrupted the transportation of hogs to processing facilities. U.S. hog producers are still incentivized to pull hogs forward as current prices are below the cost of production.
- Pork belly inventory at the end of January was a little over 70 million pounds, 57% higher than a year ago. Ample freezer inventories should keep belly prices in check through March. Higher prices are expected in Q2.
- Pork exports have been trending higher in recent weeks as world buyers take advantage of the attractive prices in the U.S. market. U.S. hog prices currently are trading at a discount to both the EU and Brazil (see page 30 of this report).
- Two consecutive weeks of big sales to Mexico have helped bolster prices for bone-in hams. Boneless ham prices, however, are running below year-ago levels as higher prices at retail have curtailed some of the domestic demand.
Full Report
Weather Disruptions Result in Sharp Decline in Slaughter, Underpin Cutout Last Week. Outlook For Early Spring Remains Muddled but More Upside Risk for Q2 on Seas
Hog Slaughter and Wholesale Demand
Total hog slaughter last week was 2.375 million head, 95k head less than expectations when the week started. Slaughter on Wednesday and Thursday was 409k and 371k head, respectively. Some of this was made up on Saturday. However, for the week slaughter was 5.2% smaller than the previous week and 4.7% smaller than a year ago. The shortfall in production supported wholesale prices last week. It is possible we will see prices remain well supported into Monday as well. The pork cutout was predictably higher on Thursday but then slipped a bit on Friday. That is somewhat of a surprise considering the extent of the drop in production. This is a reminder that pork demand is at a different level today than a year ago. One thing is worth repeating: we are talking about wholesale pork demand, i.e. demand from processors, foodservice buyers, retail buyers and export traders. Ultimately their demand will reflect the final consumer. But, in the near term, it represents their concerns about the future, pushback from downstream customers, labor issues and inventory positions.
Cold Storage Inventory
The latest USDA ‘Cold Storage’ report was a good reminder that pork supplies in cold storage have returned to a more “normal” level for this time of year. The total supply of pork at the end of January was 19% higher than a year ago. For some items, such as hams, inventories are not particularly heavy. As such, buyers are not able to stay out of the market too long. For others, such as bellies, inventory remains burdensome, up 57% from last year and 44% higher than the five-year average. Hog slaughter will be lower in the coming weeks/months. However, high cost of feed continues to incentivize producers to bring hogs to market earlier rather than later. There will come a time when we hit an inflection point. As to when that happens will be the big guessing game for April and June futures.
Fresh Pork Prices and Retail Demand
Fresh pork prices in the near term are mostly trading sideways. Retail demand has not been particularly strong, resulting in more product backing up in cold storage. The supply of pork loins in cold storage at the end of January was 43.9 million pounds. That is 16.7% higher than a year ago and 7.8% higher than the five-year average. Recently we have noticed some good demand from Japan. Sales of loins to markets outside North America are also running well ahead of last year’s levels. This is positive but it appears to us that the real action in this market will take place in Q2.
Already we are seeing the price of b/s chicken breasts trend higher. That should make pork loins more competitive in the retail case. Ground beef prices are trending up as well. Futures already are pricing a 15% premium for the loin primal value by April and a 26% premium by June. This would put the June loin primal value at par with last year’s levels. In the near term, however, loin primal value is running about 23% lower than a year ago. This presents an opportunity for domestic and export buyers alike.
Export Trend Points to Higher Shipments in March And April
Pork export business has seen a notable improvement since the start of the year. The latest data shows a continuation of that trend. While the pace of shipments is similar or slightly under last year, export buyers have put more orders on the books. That should bolster U.S. pork exports going forward. Total export sales last week were 51,916 MT, 49% higher than the average of the previous four weeks and the highest weekly sales figure since March 2021. In the last six weeks, net pork export sales have been 235k MT, which is again similar to the export sales volume we saw in early 2021.
Export sales to China continue to be inconsistent but they have been trending higher. For the second time in five weeks export sales to China surpassed 12,000 MT and outstanding net sales to China are a little over 30,000 MT, 67% higher than at this time last year.
Sales to Mexico have also surged higher and at 25,041 MT last week they were 61% higher than the four weeks average. Outstanding sales to Mexico are currently at 60,842 MT, a four-week supply and 31% higher than at this time last year.
Sales to Colombia also rebounded and we also saw strong sales to smaller markets, with the Philippines buying a little over 1,300 MT compared to just 135 MT total in the previous four weeks and sales to Australia at 1,577 MT. Sales to Japan slowed down from the big order that was reported the week before but the average of sales in the last five weeks is still above the current pace of shipments.
Price Chart
Forecasts
Steiner Consulting Group produces the National Pork Board newsletter based on information we believe is accurate and reliable. However neither NPB nor Steiner and Company warrants or guarantees the accuracy of or accepts any liability for the data, opinions or recommendations expressed.