Although across Europe, the market appears relatively unstable, as it has been for several weeks, in Germany a 3 cent price increase last week gave a little more stability to the Central European region, where prices are influenced by the German quotation.

Towards the end of last week, the German market situation reversed from consecutive price drops to an increase, based on a reversal of supply-demand. Together with the German quotation, prices went up in the Netherlands and Austria.

In Great Britain, prices also rose - British prices broke the two euro mark for the second consecutive week. The Belgian and Irish quotations moved sideways.

Prices dropped in France, though according to ISN this was due to interference caused by public holidays. Slaughterhouse closures in Brittany are also affecting the market. Germany overtook France in the league table of major EU producers, now ranking third of five in the price structure, behind Spain and Denmark (though the Danish price also dropped last week).

German pig industry group said in its outlook on Tuesday that prices are expected to remain steady in the Central region.