According to German pig industry organisation ISN, slaughtering companies continue to exert pressure on quotations in a number of countries in the EU’s mature pigs market. However, ISN added that a decelerating export trade is also contributing to the pressure.

ISN said, "As regards Russia, the booming trend has cooled off noticeably most recently, after accession to the WTO. Brazilian, US American and Canadian importers are much more in demand at present, because they can offer a more favourable price level. At the same time, sufficient quantities are on offer throughout Europe at partially clearly increased slaughter weights."

German producers have had prices lowered once more. This in turn has affected Austria, where prices fell by 5 cents this week. Price decreases were slightly more moderate in Southern Europe, but prices fell nonetheless. In France, prices went down by a corrected 4 cents last Thursday whilst in Spain the prices were lowered by a converted 2 cents.

Only Danish pig keepers have managed to avoid price cuts. There the quantities on offer still remain quite scarce, so the prices were unchanged. ISN said that scarcer supply could mean prices remain constant over the coming weeks.

However, Scotland's QMS livestock industry body announced earlier this week that returns for Scottish producers are nine percent above last year’s levels and currently 8 percent above the EU average. Nevertheless, producers in the country are still feeling the same sting of high input costs.

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