The quotations all in all show a sideward movement. After the prices stopped going up in Germany, no room is left for price increases in the neighbouring countries.

Pigs for slaughter were indeed very much sought for in Germany, but in the end the threat of discounted prices in the run-up to the assessment of quotations had prevented the required price increase.

Over the past weeks, the producers’ associations had been missing the courage that would have been needed for a change.

The situation proves to be well balanced altogether in France and pigs there are sold very smoothly.

Yet, the slaughter companies are complaining about margins being weak. The Austrians meanwhile were able to sell their backlog supply, thus getting the market balance rebuilt. On the Spanish market the slaughter weights remain high and so do the quantities on offer.

Noticeable cross-border relief may be attributed to private storage. Applications for as many as 90 000 tons of pork, for instance, have been entered until 20 January at the EU Commission. With their share of 29.1 percent, the Germans are in the fore, followed suit by the Spanish with their share of 21.5 percent.

Trend for the German market:

The supply situation in the pigs-mature-for-slaughter market is well balanced altogether. While some slaughter companies are reported to have slightly reduced the number of slaughters, other companies are very vigorously asking for live pigs. The market appears in a well-balanced way all in all.