On Thursday last week, the Danes went ahead with their corrected 2.7 cents plus. Germany and the Netherlands followed on Friday. and Great Britain also clearly increased its quotation, says market monitor Schweine.Net.

France, however, has seen more variability with prices jumping up and down during business weeks nine to 12. Here, we are seeing some back-pedalling by a corrected 0.3 cents. Spain, once more, continues to quote on the highest possible level.

The current EU market is being governed by the quantities of live pigs on offer. But keen demand, on the part of the slaughter companies, means that the Northern EU member countries ware getting a welcome boost to their prices.

Within Europe, the meat business is being described as very varied; and so margins are expected to rank from being moderate to constant.

Trend: Although opinion leaders are offering mixed views, the majority of those involved in the market assume that the finished pig prices will keep increasing. And, if the spring weather conditions continue, it might fuel a more positive demand for meat.