EU producers have felt pressure this week, after seeing some favourable conditions earlier in the month. The mature pigs market is hectic ahead of the holidays, and major producing countries have seen prices slip.

According to German producers' group ISN, slaughter companies in Germany have sought to benefit from the pre-Christmas pressure to sell, pushing for price reductions. Quotations went down noticeably in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Denmark last week.

Prices in the UK took a tumble, dropping below €2/kg for the first time in over six weeks. The significant reduction took prices that, until last week had been increasing steadily, down to €1.93/kg.

Bucking the trend, the Spanish quotation remained stable and in France, prices rose a little. ISN said, "In France, the slaughter weights are going down and the quantities on offer are sold swiftly."

Analysts from the German industry group added, "Over this last complete week of slaughter before Christmas, the quantities on offer are quite large and pressure continues to be exerted. The producers started delivering pigs for slaughter in time to have their stables clear before the holidays. For that reason, the quantities should already be placed or be taken into consideration, respectively. So, the situation should be relaxing noticeably."