The European mature pigs market remains unsettled this week.

In the majority of EU member countries, the market situation appears well-balanced and the quotations steady. Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Ireland managed to retain the sideways price movement achieved last week. In Denmark, following a dip last week, prices remained level.

Quotations still tend to be weak in southern Europe. Price drops were recorded in Spain, where seasonal reductions combined with flagging exports, and France, where prices fell by as much as 5.7 cents this week.

German industry group ISN said that, in Germany at least, the situation is looking up for producers. Heralding the end of supply and demand imbalances which characterised the past few weeks, "slaughter company demand is skyrocketing and can hardly be covered," according to the German group.

ISN said "the atmosphere is mostly positive everywhere… further price development is expected, or prices should remain at least unchanged."