Lean hog futures rounded out the Thursday trade with contracts 20 to 82 cents higher. Open interest was up 2,602 contracts, suggesting modest new buying. USDA’s national base hog price was not reported on Thursday afternoon due to thinner volume. The CME Lean Hog Index was up 54 cents on April 21 at $91.05.
Weekly Export Sales data showed a total of just 16,127 MT of pork sold in the week of 4/16, a calendar year low. Mexico was the buyer of 8,900 MT, with 3,300 MT sold to South Korea. Shipments were pegged at 38,177 MT, a 3-week high. The top destination was Mexico at 17,300 MT, with 4,900 MT headed to Japan.
