December 23, 2009

Pig prices weaken in most EU member states

This week, the slaughter pig market registered weakening prices in many European countries.

Prices are unchanged only in Germany, Austria and Belgium. In these three countries, the quantities of pigs for slaughter on offer are sold on the market smoothly despite the approaching Christmas.

The French price went down by one corrected cent, justified by the fact that the French slaughter companies will reduce the number of slaughters carried out throughout the Christmas holidays.

Considerably larger quantities of pigs were slaughtered in Austria over the past two weeks. Slaughter companies there hope that demand from food retailing will cause the storehouses to empty during the holidays.

Although a few days of slaughter will be missing this week, mature pigs for slaughter are well placed on the market. Since no further pool price will be announced this week, the pigs-mature-for-slaughter price will remain stable in Germany over Christmas.