Brazilian pork prices stay low as excess supply squeezes producers

The Brazilian pork market closed the week with the lowest live‑pig and wholesale cut prices in recent months. Analysts say an abundant domestic supply and cautious buying by meat processors are keeping prices depressed, with the national average live‑pig price slipping from R$ 5.38 to R$ 5.36 per kilogram.

Regional prices remained largely stable, with minor variations in states such as São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná and others. The weak pricing is tightening margins for swine producers, who face higher production costs and limited profitability.

Export activity continues to support the sector: in May, Brazil shipped 111,000 tonnes of fresh pork, generating US$ 278.27 million in revenue over 20 working days. Daily export volumes averaged 5,560 tonnes and daily earnings US$ 13.91 million, though the average price per tonne fell 3.3% to US$ 2,503.30. Analysts note that upcoming factors such as rising wages, pork’s price advantage over beef, milder weather and the World Cup could boost domestic demand, but short‑term price recovery remains uncertain.