German pig body ISN has said that the European mature pigs market has reached rock bottom, and is beginning “a phase of consolidation,” where quotations will be maintained at their current levels.

Nevertheless, price reductions which have been affecting producers in almost every EU country (apart from UK and Ireland, which have escaped the worst ravages) continued in France and Denmark. In Germany, prices remained the same.

French producers registered the steepest fall in prices, with prices tumbling for the past six weeks straight. France’s ranking amongst the top-five major EU pig producing nations has fallen off as a result. France is fifth of the EU’s five major producers.

ISN said supply and demand are beginning to correct themselves and prices are “expected to remain steady at least.” However, in Spain, a prolonged economic downturn and rising retail prices meant Spanish consumers bought more chicken that pork, a meat tied inextricably to Spanish culture, in 2011.

Rising feed costs, shrinking herds and a doubling of exports to China are all thought to be behind price rises, according to UK pig body BPEX.   

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