As a consequence, some quotations, such as in France and the Netherlands, continue to fall. In Spain, prices continue to decline; thus the Spanish prices went down from the top to the bottom of the European market. All other countries, however, report unchanged prices, signalling a bottoming out of the pig market.

In spite of a strong Euro, exports remain steady on this low price level, at least with regard to the quantities of pork exported. There's new hope from reports that the Dutch are planning to provide the first pork supplies to China this year. The European market will be relieved by this.

After internal calculations, the European Commission expects pig prices to go up by 30 per cent on medium term as a result of increased costs.