The average price of a kilogram of chilled pork in March amounted to 180.3 UAH/kg, which is 2.1% or 3.7 UAH/kg higher than in February, analysts of the industry association of industrial pork producers say: "The most noticeable rise in price affected the more budgetary shoulder and hip, the average price of which in March increased by 7.5 UAH/kg and 5.7 UAH/kg compared to February (+4.5% and 3.7%, respectively). The price of loin went up by 3.5%, with the average price adding 6.8 UAH/kg and returning to the October level. The rest of the parts were limited to an increase of 0.5-2%," the analysts of the ASU report.
At the same time, the dynamics of prices in the pig live market and on the shelves of meat counters this month were out of sync: "Early Easter, minimal imports and a significant decline in prices in February contributed to a more rapid recovery in prices for slaughter pigs in March. Therefore, in mid-March, the weighted average price for live pork crossed the 73 UAH/kg mark, which did not fall below until the end of the month and remained at a relatively stable level with fluctuations within 1%. Prices for chilled pork semi-finished products, on the contrary, did not stop the upward movement, continuing it in early April, but with a similar change in purchase prices," the AUPB notes.
Chicken prices also rose by 2% in March, to 124.55 UAH/kg. "The two percent increase in the price of pork and chicken in national supermarket chains corresponds to the growth rate of prices for food and soft drinks compared to February," the analysts of the Association commented, citing data from the State Statistics Service.
The Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders is a non-profit, voluntary organization founded by domestic pork producers. The main purposes of the association are representation and protection of rights and interests of farms of the association, assistance in development and introduction of new technologies for efficient production of pork, expansion of sales markets, and protection of domestic sales market.