Besides Germany with its 930 000 pigs, the Netherlands (295 000) and Spain arrived at their annual peak levels last week as regards the number of pig slaughters. Quotations remained unchanged in Scandinavia and Great Britain, prices for finished pigs fell everywhere else in Europe. Prices continued to go down in Spain in a limited way, as they have over the past weeks. However, at a corrected EUR 1.24 per kg slaughter weight they still bring up the rear within the EU.

At the European slaughterhouses, the slaughter lines are being run non-stop to deal with supplies. Most notably, Germany’s decline in prices must be attributed to last week’s public holiday (October 3). All the same, market experts report the meat business to be quite brisk domestically and abroad, giving slight markdowns for some cuts such as ham, belly and fillet.

Trend: The slaughter pig supply is most likely to stay at current levels. Quantities are not expected to increase next week. Thus, the market is likely to remain stable.