French pig prices are moving closer to cost of production following squeezed marginds and enduring misery for most of 2011, after increases in recent weeks promise a better deal for French producers.

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The French Pig Producers Federation said producer prices have risen this month, in spite of the fact that December is not typically a favourable time for pork. Farmers in France had been increasingly perturbed by spiralling feed costs, which have been rising inexorably since summer 2010.

In a statement, the Fédération Nationale Porcine said, "The economy remains precarious for the producers whose coffers have been depleted by successive crises. That is why producers will remain vigilant in coming weeks about the evolution of pork prices and the attitude of industry operators."

This year has seen several protests from pig farmers in the EU, who have demonstrated to raise awareness of the pressures they face. In France, pig farmers descended on Paris to protest in January and in March carried out ‘stop and search’ actions on trucks supplying meat curers and supermarkets, confiscating any meat which was not stamped VPF (French pork).

In the UK, pig producers took to the streets of London in protest and the National Pig Association launched a banner campaign promoting British pork products, in an effort to garner support for the country’s pork producers.