Market Commentary: Friday, January 10/25

Transcript

Hog futures are trading higher at midday. The announcement that pork production in 2025 is forecasted to be stronger than December's estimates combined with the note of higher pork cutout values is all helping push the lean hog contracts higher into Friday's noon hour. Day by day, the further the market moves away from the technical bottom established earlier this week, the more likely it's becoming that a near-term bottom has been established for the market and higher trends could now become the norm if pork demand remains supportive.

Cash hog prices on the National morning report are lower, the morning cutout value is higher.

The Canadian Dollar is trading lower against the US dollar at midday.

For the week ending Jan 10, the Western Hog Exchange OlyWest 20 weekly price is $2.15/kg dressed, the OlyWest 21 weekly price is $2.25/kg dressed, and the BP4 price is $2.15/kg dressed. This is Pat Matthezing reporting from the Western Hog Exchange

Weekly Regional HOG PRICE Report

 

Weekly Regional HOG PRICE Report

Things to Consider….

        The Quarterly Hogs & Pigs report was released Thursday, December 23rd. The latest NASS/USDA report indicated a +0.5% or 384 thousand head increase in All Hogs & Pigs compared to last year, with the category for market hogs up +0.5% and the breeding herd up +0.1% for the December quarter. Overall, the report generally met market analysts' pre-report estimates. Compared to the previous quarter, the breeding herd fell 40 thousand head or -0.7%, while market hogs overall were down 211 thousand or -0.3% from last reported. Both market hog weight groups ranging from under 50 pounds to 119 pounds recorded increases of more than 1% from last year however both are lower than the previous quarter (-2.7% and -5.2% respectively), while heavier weight groups of up to 179 pounds and over 180 pounds were modestly under those reported year-ago (down around a half-percent) but are up +2.6% and +8.5% respectively over the previous quarter.
 
 
        The September to November pig crop was reported at 35,238, up 2% over last year but dipped -0.6% from the previous quarter. Sow farrowing for the latest period was generally stable, down a modest -0.2% from a year earlier, while intentions are expected to continue at or above year ago levels for the next two periods (Dec-Feb & Mar-May). Pigs per litter continue to forge new historical highs at 11.92 pigs per litter reported for the September-November period, up +1.7% from the previous quarter, +2.2% on the year and a percent over pre-report estimates.

Revisions, as stated on the report: “All inventory and pig crop estimates for December 2022 through September 2024 were reviewed using final pig crop, official slaughter, death loss, and updated import and export data. The revision made to the September 2024 all hogs and pigs inventory was 0.5 percent. A revision of 1.2 percent was made to the June-August 2024 pig crop. The net revision made to the June 2024 all hogs and pigs inventory was 0.4 percent. A net revision of 1.1 percent was made to the March-May 2024 pig crop. The net revision made to the September 2023 all hogs and pigs inventory was 2.2 percent. A net revision of 2.6 percent was made to the June-August 2023 pig crop".


  January 3, 2025



Weekly Hog Price Recap

US cash hog prices started the week higher ahead of the New Year holiday, however daily moves varied the latter half of the week. Regional cash finished $0.85/cwt higher while national cash was up $1/cwt. CME cash declined daily in the holiday week with mid-week moves considered more moderate, with the week ending shy of $1/cwt lower. Most wholesale pork primals were significantly lower, only butts and ribs improved, pressuring cutout to end -4.5% or $4.26 lower to $90.87 US/cwt from a week earlier.



Canadian hog prices fell considerably on the week, weighed down by lower slaughter-based pricing and lower pork cutout values. Hylife hogs dropped $4.45/hog followed by those out of Ontario which were down $3.30/hog. Quebec hogs fell $2.60/hog while the ML Sig 4 was down $2.15/hog. Markets derived from lagged base pricing recorded improvements on the week with the OlyW 21 climbing $0.30/hog, the OlyW 20 up $1.65/hog and BP4/TC4 $3.50/hog higher. In the US hog values varied, with Tyson hogs down $2/hog while JM hogs improved $1.75/hog from the previous week.

Weekly Hog Margins

Monitored Canadian hog margins weakened on lower hog values and a jump in feed costs. Canadian farrow-to-finish feed costs jumped $2.80/hog while those out of the monitored US region were up near $1/hog from a week earlier.

OlyW 20 hog margins declined $1.15 to $34.85/hog profits, followed by margins off the ML Sig 4 which weakened shy of $5 to $33/hog profits. Ontario margins weakened $6.10 to $32.80/hog profits while those out of Quebec dropped $5.40 to $30.90/hog profits and Hylife margins weakened $7.30 to $29.80/hog profits. OlyW 21 fell $2.50 to $23.70/hog profits. In the US, Tyson hog margins weakened $3 to $29.65/hog profits while JM margins improved $0.80 to $27/hog profits.
 

US Regional Margins

  • Tyson: $29.63 USD *   1.4407  =  $42.69 CAD
  • Morrell: $26.98 USD * 1.4407 = $38.87 CAD




Disclaimer: Commodity Professionals Inc. presents this report as a snapshot of the market using current information available at the time of the report. These findings are for informational purposes only and should not be reproduced or transmitted by any means without permission.  Commodity Professionals Inc. does not guarantee and accepts no legal liability arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any material contained in the publication.






Weekly Regional HOG PRICE Report

 

Weekly Regional HOG PRICE Report

Weekly Hog Price Recap

US cash hog prices managed to finish the holiday week modestly higher, up around $0.65 US in regionally and near $0.30 US higher nationally, while CME cash was up shy of $0.80 US from the week previous. Wholesale pork primals were mixed on the week with lower hams, ribs and picnics weighing cutout -0.9% or $0.83 US lower from a week earlier.

Dec 31, 2024

 

Canadian hog prices were primarily higher as cash and slaughter-based hog prices increased and were further supported by a +0.5% rise in the BoC CAD-US exchange rate. Hog values out of Quebec rose the most on the week, jumping $7.28/hog, followed by hogs off the OlyW 20 which rose $4.80/hog. BP4/TC4 improved $3.80/hog while the ML Sig 4 was up $3.50/hog, and Ontario hogs climbed $3.35/hog while those off the OlyW 21 R2 were up $1/hog from the previous week and Hylife fell $0.59/hog due to pressure of reduced pork cutout values. In the US, Tyson hogs declined $0.75/hog while JM hogs improved $1.40/hog from the previous week.

 

Weekly Hog Margins

Monitored Canadian hog margins were mixed to primarily stronger, supported by higher hog values though tempered by increased feed costs. Canadian farrow-to-finish feed costs were up $1.85/hog while those out of the monitored US region were up $1.60/hog from a week earlier.

Ontario hog margins strengthened $1.50 to $39/hog profits, followed by margins off the ML Sig 4 which were up $1.65 to $38/hog profits. Hylife margins weakened $2.45 to $37/hog profits while Quebec margins strengthened $5.40 to $36.30/hog profits and OlyW 20 margins rose $2.90 to $36/hog profits. OlyW 21 slipped $0.85 to $20.70/hog profits. In the US, Tyson hog margins weakened $2.35 to $32.65/hog profits while JM margins dipped $0.20 lower to $26.20/hog profits.
 

US Regional Margins

  • Tyson: $ 32.63 USD X 1.4399 = $ 46.98 in Canadian Dollars
  • Morrell: $ 26.19 USD X 1.4399 = $ 37.71 in Canadian Dollars




Disclaimer: Commodity Professionals Inc. presents this report as a snapshot of the market using current information available at the time of the report. These findings are for informational purposes only and should not be reproduced or transmitted by any means without permission.     Commodity Professionals Inc. does not guarantee and accepts no legal liability arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any material contained in the publication.