This confusion was triggered by last Wednesday’s unexpected decline in the German pig slaughter quotations.

Obviously, the German slaughter companies were unable to cope with the price level achieved (a corrected 1.45 euros per kg slaughter weight). So, attributing it to a weak meat business on the domestic and foreign markets, they started to increase pressure by reducing quantities.

Some EU member countries could not elude the unsettledness after the price decrease. This, above all, goes for the countries neighbouring Germany.

Both the Netherlands and Belgium followed the German quotation. The market was also exerted pressure on in Austria. The weak Italian ham market attracts special interest in this respect.

The market situation remains on a steady level in Spain, France and in Denmark.

The French market is well balanced. Yet, there as well concern is strong about the development observed in Germany.

In view of good exports toward Asia, the Spanish are quite relaxed. But they as well recognize how much both the meat market and the price level in northern Europe depend on the weather as well as on how much barbecue meat is bought.

Trend for the German market:

After the unexpected fall in prices, the situation remains unsettled. Given the public holiday to come at the end of the week, pigs for slaughter are difficult to place at short notice.

From the marketers’ point of view, the situation is expected to get back to normal swiftly next week. Following the early price decrease, an unchanged quotation would seem reasonable.