What will happen to the price of Acorn-fed Iberian Ham in 2020?

The appearance of COVID-19 has upset the plans of all of us. These Iberian ham nuts, and surely you too, are interested in knowing how the current situation affects the price of acorn-fed Iberian ham.

The acorn-fed ham market is characterized by a significant dependence on the hotel and catering industry, a sector that has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic. The inactivity of restaurants and bars for so long has led to a significant decrease in the demand for acorn-fed ham in Spain.

Effects of COVID-19 on acorn-fed acorn ham

A few days ago one of our associates told us that more than 15,000 pieces of Iberian acorn-fed ham, cebo campo and cebo, can be consumed during the April Fair in Seville alone. Imagine what the suspension of this event and others like it means for acorn-fed Iberian ham producers.
According to ASICI figures, a total of 732,962 acorn-fed Iberian pigs were slaughtered in the 2019-20 montanera. Of these, 54% would be 100% Iberian breed, those that give rise to pata negra acorn-fed ham, which is recognized with a black seal or flange on the acorn-fed ham.

The acorn-fed Iberian hams marketed in 2020 correspond mainly to the 2016/17 montanera, which had a slaughter rate similar to that of the last montanera, that is, around 700,000 pigs.

It is true that some of these animals after slaughter, for different reasons, do not end up as acorn-fed Iberian ham and would become part of the group of “hams outside the norm“.

Therefore, if ASICI’s figures are anything to go by, this year we will have almost 1.5 million legs of acorn-fed ham on sale by 2020. Supply has not changed, demand has fallen, at least for now. Therefore, the first effect this year 2020 on the price of Iberian acorn-fed ham has been a generalized drop in prices. It is estimated that from January to the present time, prices at origin have fallen by 20%, because hams do not wait… if they are cured, they have to be sold.

Will the price of acorn-fed ham fall in 2020?

But… will this fall in acorn-fed ham prices be sustained over time? This is a big question that is not easy to answer. We know that as soon as the crisis hit, the sector has reacted; demand from other markets has been boosted and efforts are being made to reduce supply. On the other hand, the economic situation we will be experiencing in the coming months does not seem to be conducive to mass consumption of pata negra Iberian ham.

Our forecast is that acorn-fed ham at a good price will be present in the market for a few months, but this will not be a circumstance that will last for a long time.

Meanwhile, you can buy 100% Iberian acorn-fed ham at a scandalous price, we also have 75% Iberian acorn-fed ham at an incredible price in whole piece. Take advantage and give your palate a treat without your pocket suffer.