Across Europe, scarcer supplies may translate into improved returns for producers across a range of sectors. In the European pig market analysts at German pig producers’ organisation ISN have suggested that prices may rise in some areas and remain steady elsewhere.

ISN said, “This current week of slaughter sees the pigs-mature-for-slaughter prices being mainly steady in the EU member countries.” Prices remain steady for the most part in Germany and the surrounding states, where ISN has claimed that large companies have artificially depressed prices.

Prices stayed the same in Germany, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands. ISN said slaughter companies’ demand has dropped despite the currently high quotations, due to the summer season drawing to a close. However, scarce quantities of available meat mean producers could still benefit.

The German analysts elaborated, “Within the EU, many producers are selling every pig that to a reasonable extent suits the optimum weight range. The current price level seems to be acceptable while the feed costs continue to increase.” The statement is supported by low slaughter weights recorded in past weeks, which remain far below the usual weights in many countries.

However, although the situation may cause some tension, price increases have been observed in many European states. In France quotations rose +6 cents. In Spain, quantities on offer are still too small to meet demand, and daily growth rates have been negatively affected by the summer heat. There, price rose +3 cents as a result. Prices also rose by +3 cents in Denmark, where the export trade is still flourishing.

ISN analysts summed up that the market situation is too difficult to call at present. Nevertheless, the organisation remains hopeful; a spokesperson said of the German situation, “Even if demand is being cut down on the part of the slaughter companies, there is no obvious backlog supply of pigs mature for slaughter at present. Many marketers expect the quantities on offer to decrease by midweek. Even if from today’s point of view it is impossible to make a final assessment of the situation, there are many arguments for the prices to remain steady next week.”

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