Pork prices are likely to go up after about a 30 percent increase in pig feed prices effective 19th February 2024. Pig feed prices have gone up by a significant K210 from K750 to K960, a situation which is likely to affect the cost of doing business for pig farmers.
According to a pricelist seen by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, the retail price for a 50 kg bag of complete Premium Pig Creep Pellets has gone up by 28%, while the retail price for a 50 kg bag of complete Premium Pig Weaner Pellets has increased by 18%. Standard pig feeds have also seen a significant increase in prices. For instance, the price of a 50 kg bag of Pig Grower Pellets has gone up by K22, while Pig Grower Mash has increased by K75.
The increase in pig feed prices is expected to have a considerable impact on pig farmers in Zambia as the cost of doing business for pig farmers is likely to go up, and this may lead to an increase in the price of pork. This increase in pork prices may have a ripple effect on consumers, who may have to dig deeper into their pockets to purchase pork products.
The increase in pig feed prices comes at a time when the cost of living in Zambia is already high, with many families struggling to make ends meet.
For complete standard pig feeds, the price of a 50 kg bag of Pig Grower Pellets has also gone up by K22 from K415 to k437 while Pig Grower Mash has gone up by K75 from K365 to k440. Pig Finisher Pellets and Pig Finisher Mash feed prices have also gone up to K415 for finisher pellets and K425 from K375 for pig finisher mash respectively.
Meanwhile, Standard concentrates for pig weaner, grower, and finisher concentrates have gone up from K580 to K650, K445 to K491, and K425 to K485 while pig sow and boar and pig lactating concentrates have gone up from K430 to K475 and K515 to K555 respectively.
For value concentrates, value pig grower and finisher feed prices for a 50 kg bag size have gone up from K420 to K455, K380 to K425 while the value sow and boar and the value lactating sow have gone up from K395 to K470 and K475 to K555 respectively.
