Little has changed in the European mature pigs market this week. In the northern EU states, the quantities of pigs on offer are in high demand. The brisk trade is a welcome change for producers who, until February, had seen slow trade, which prevented quotations from rising.

German pig organisation said on Tuesday that meat prices could increase over the coming weeks. For the time being at least, pig prices remained on a level throughout most of Europe. In Southern States in particular, decreasing supply is increasing hopes for better returns.

Spain's export trade has picked up and prices in the Spanish market rose by +1 cent last week. On a scale of the EU's five major pig-keeping countries, Spain has moved ahead of second place Denmark, by a gap of 11 cents.

As demand continues to be good, ISN analysts suggested that "From today's point of view, a price increase is quite a realistic thing to anticipate for the week ahead."