This current week, the European mature pig market remains week, according to ISN – the German industry body. Prices have continued to drop in many EU countries.

Denmark quoted a 2.7 cent price decrease on Thursday. The German leading quotation also went down by 3 cents as a result, ISN said, of "the slaughter companies exerting pressure, [which] played a decisive role again with regard to the European price trends." Thus, Germany fell to 4th place behind France in the table of Europe's five major pig keeping EU countries.

Overall, ISN said an extensive supply of both quantities and high slaughter weights, is a problem for producers. The French market is said to be well balanced, so that quotations are moving sideways. The price trend is estimated to be steady there. Spain remains top in the European price structure with an unchanged quotation.

ISN said volatility is likely to remain a trend over coming weeks and exports are below par.