German pig producers’ organisation ISN has this week warned that previously balanced European markets are beginning to weaken. Having last week suggested the state of balance would continue for the foreseeable future ISN analysts revealed that lower quotations first seen in France have set in elsewhere, as slaughterers begin to exert their weight.

In France, the quotation fell noticeably for the second week running, with slaughter weights going down and pig numbers rising. France’s position has slipped amongst the EU’s major pig producers; the country is now third on the back of this latest drop in prices.

Nevertheless, French producers remained upbeat; producers’ organisations said the present situation is likely to be only temporary, as stocks in cold storage warehouses are extremely low and declining pig production will see their returns rise once more.

In Germany, too quotations fell this week, dropping by 3 cents. ISN protested once more that the drop was the result of artificial pressure put on by slaughterers; the group claimed the 3 cent drop was “completely unjustified”. As a result of drops in Germany and France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Austria also saw reductions.

Now that the Spanish high season is over, and holiday makers have largely departed, producers there also registered a reduction. Only Denmark and the UK appeared to weather the storm, with scarce quantities off pigs available working in producers’ favour.

ISN said that, despite the declining prices, the quantities of pigs mature for slaughter on offer are still being sold without problems. The group said demand is still good and, since results were good last week, reductions in quantities are said to be expected as from Thursday, based on market information the organisation has received.

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