With only a few exceptions, the quotations for the European pigs-mature-for-slaughter market were able to stabilise at the beginning of this week. It is true that some German slaughter companies demanded price concessions very early last week from producers; yet, unchanged prices dominated in Germany at last.

This stability spilled over to neighbouring countries – Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands, where quotations remained the same as previous analysis. In France, however, the average prices fell by 3 cents during the Plerin auction, compared with last week’s prices. Demand for pigs for slaughter was perceivably dampened through the veterinarians’ striking as well as through the extended price gap towards the German, Dutch and Belgian quotations, as is reported from France. In Denmark, the pig prices went down by a very clear 4 cents’ range. This may essentially be an adaptation to last weeks’ price decreases with regard to the German quotation.

Even with the slaughter weights still being very high and the business in exports to third countries still being difficult, the Spanish quotation is able to maintain a comparably high level. The holiday season, starting with the Easter holidays, might be a decisive factor; generally boosting domestic meat consumption.

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