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Pork exporters report increased shipments to the United States

Pork exports for September 2009 were up 3.8 percent from 12 months earlier. Pork imports for September were up 16.3 percent from a year earlier. All of the major pork exporters to the U.S. showed substantial increases in their sales to the U.S. in September.

Pork exports from the U.S. for January-September were down 17.07 percent from 2008. The big decreases in exports were to China-Hong Kong and Russia.

Pork imports for January-September were down 0.5 percent from 12 months earlier. Net pork exports as a percent of production declined from 17.42 percent in 2008 to 14.07 percent in 2009 for January-September.

Live hog imports from Canada for January-September were down 32.7 percent from a year earlier. Feeder pig imports during September were down 26.5 percent from last year and slaughter hog imports were down 50.3 percent from 2008.

There is a high probability that the low-price month for 2009 will be August. If this comes true it will be the first time of record for August to be the low-price month of the year with the exception of 1945 with price controls during World War II.

Feeder pig prices at United Tel-o-Auction this week were $8-20 per cwt. above two weeks ago. The prices by weight group at United this week were 50-60 pounds $72-82 per cwt. and 60-pounds-plus $72.50 per cwt.

Feeder pig prices last week nationally were basically steady with a week earlier. The average price for 10-pound, 50-54 percent lean was $35.30 per head. For 40-pound pigs, the average price was $40.06 per head. The formula price for 10-pound pigs was $37.43 per head and the formula price for 40-pound pigs was $55.52 per head. The cash or spot market price for 10-pound pigs was $34 per head and 40-pound pigs was $39.28 per head.

Live barrow and gilt weights in Iowa-Minnesota last week were down 0.9 pound per head from a week earlier at 270.4 pounds but up 2.8 pounds per head from a year earlier.

Retail pork prices in October were down 0.9 percent from September and down 4.3 percent from October 2008. Retail pork prices for January-October 2009 were up 0.6 percent from a year earlier. The processor-wholesaler margins were down 5.5 percent, and live hog prices for January-October were 17.4 percent below 12 months earlier.

Pork carcass cutouts for Thursday afternoon at $56.94 per cwt. was down $0.18 per cwt. from a week earlier.

Live hog prices Friday morning were $1-$2 per cwt. lower compared to seven days earlier. The weighted average negotiated carcass prices Friday morning were $1.13-2.56 per cwt. lower compared to last week.

The top live prices Friday morning were: Peoria $34 per cwt., Zumbrota, Minn., $35 per cwt. and interior Missouri $36.50 per cwt. The weighted average negotiated carcass prices Friday morning by area were: western Corn Belt $50.89 per cwt., eastern Corn Belt $49.36 per cwt., Iowa-Minnesota $50.82 per cwt. and nation $49.83 per cwt.

Slaughter this week under Federal Inspection was estimated at 2.322 million head, down 1.9 percent from a year earlier.
There will be no letter next week due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Glenn Grimes or Ron Plain may write to them in care of this publication.

11/25/2009