Following a week of good weather and public holidays in many parts of Europe, pig prices have improved for producers in a number of regions, according to Germany’s pig meat body ISN.

ISN analysts said today that, although price increases could not be enforced everywhere, in Spain prices rose to their highest levels in eight years. The Spanish price went up to a converted 1.77 €/kg slaughter weight last week.

According to ISN, at the beginning of the holiday season, Spanish slaughter companies were still having difficulties meeting demand for pigs for slaughter.

In France, too, prices rose by five Euro cents, following a long period of low prices, which have caused discontentment and sparked protests amongst producers. Increased domestic demand in the country, coupled with lower quantities of available pigs mature for slaughter combined to produce the rise, according to German analysts. Nevertheless, prices in France remain below the cost of production at 1.55 €/kg.

In Denmark, prices rose three cents; both domestic and export producers benefited from the rise. Prices in Belgium also rose 1.61€/kg. However, in Germany Austria and the Netherlands, there was no change in price.

However, ISN said German slaughter companies’ demand remains strong. The German analysts said the weakening euro had favoured German producers, and the export market is gathering momentum in the country. They said that prices are expected to remain stable, even if no rises are seen.

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