EU pork prices: prices developing inconsistently

ISN reports that overall, the market for slaughter pigs is calm and relaxed. The supply of slaughter pigs is largely below average. The fact that demand from China is still very high and that a lot is being bought is currently being reported from Spain. However, Chinese purchasing prices for by-products and ham have dropped, according to a Spanish market watcher. Due to the decline in Chinese ham prices, German and Spanish exporters would force the Italian market, which in turn would put prices under pressure. Overall, the European meat industry continues to complain about problems in passing on the increased purchase prices to trade and industry.

Unchanged quotations are being reported on from Spain, France, and Austria. Moderate prices increases are recorded in Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The Danish quotation went up by a corrected 2.7 cents, thus closing ranks with the corrected French quotation. In addition, the optimum range of the quotation with regard to slaughter weights was raised. This is done by Danish Crown in Denmark in order to make up for changes in the demand of pork. The Belgian quotation, still tackling with pent-up demand after the African swine fever outbreak, went up by a corrected 2.5 cents.

In Germany, in the course of the pricing a Solomon's judgement was made. The tensions between producers and slaughter companies over the payoffs ended after a house price week last Wednesday with a 2 cent downgrade. The new listing level is now accepted by all market participants.