German pig industry group ISN said on Tuesday that Europe's mature pig market is finally developing in favour of producers. "Brisk demand is reported almost everywhere in Europe, with quantities on offer being limited and the slaughter weights going down," the group said.

The Spanish quotation remains top of the list of the EU's major producing nations by a clear margin. There, producers enjoyed a 3 cent price rise. The German quotation also increased by 4 cents, as did those of the Netherlands and Belgium.

The rises in Central Europe will be welcome for producers. They follow a period of largely steady prices. In France, prices rose by 2 cents, and in Denmark , quotations followed the trend, rising by 3 cents.

ISN commentators last week complained that influential meat processors were (successfully) attempting to depress prices in Germany and, by extension, surrounding nations. On Tuesday, the group welcomed the rises and said, "discounted prices which had been announced turned out to be a mere scenario of intimidation." ISN said exports remain healthy and therefore "prices are expected to remain steady."