Trade
imago images/Christian Spicker 
Interim protective measures are currently in place in the area surrounding the boar carcases.
UNITED KINGDOM, London. It has now been a week since Germany first found a case of ASF in a deceased wild boar near the Polish border. How have markets responded so far?
Pig prices in Germany fell sharply in response to the outbreak of ASF. AMI quoted the VEZG Association price as €1.27/kg for the week ended 23 September, the same as last week but 14% down on the €1.47/kg quoted for the week ended 2 September. Reports indicate that prices in Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands have also experienced some downward pressure, though not to the same extent as in Germany. Low priced pork from Germany is undercutting other suppliers within Europe, though the extent to which processors will be willing to buy this pork remains to be seen. 
Jürgen Treiber / pixelio.de, Jürgen Treiber / pixelio.de
On the other hand, processors with access to China now face the prospect of reduced competition on this market, which may prove price supportive. As a large exporter, Spain particularly stands to benefit, though freezing capacity may limit the volumes that can be traded. The loss of most export markets outside of the EU presents significant challenges with carcase balance, particularly for offal products. Staffing levels also remain a difficulty in German processing plants.
So far, the following countries have placed a ban on German pork imports:
- China
- Singapore
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Mexico
- South Korea
- Japan
- South Africa
The original wild boar carcase was found in Brandenburg state, which is in the eastern part Germany, surrounding Berlin. Five more infected wild boar have also been found close to the original location this week. Brandenburg is not the most pig-dense part of Germany, containing about 2% of the overall national herd in 2016 (150,000 head) and about 4% of the breeding herd (45,000 head), according to Eurostat figures.
AMI report that slaughter in eastern Germany totals about 7 million head annually, whereas overall German pig slaughter is in excess of 55 million head. Reportedly, 1.2 million pigs were slaughtered in Brandenburg last year, with Vion operating a large plant in Perleberg. This plant is still about 300 km from the location of the infected wild boar carcases though. The only other large plant in Eastern Germany is a Tonnies plant in Weißenfels, which is also nearly 300 km away. This plant reportedly slaughters 4.6 million pigs annually. 
Imago Images / Countrypixel
Source: AHDB