ISN: 'Higher pig price is possible'

Normally the maximum bandwidth between the German pig price and the Internet exchange is €0,07 per kilo. That distance was reached on Tuesday, January 30, as the Internet exchange rose by €0,01 to €1,37 per kilo. 13 of the 17 lots offered have changed hands.

After a difficult start to 2018, the German pig market is now talking about a noticeably improved demand for pigs ready for slaughter. This can also be read from the slaughter figures. The ISN (representative of German pig farmers) therefore believes it is possible that the German pig price will increase slightly on Wednesday afternoon, January 31.

There is no certainty in advance whether this expectation will be met. This is because German slaughterhouses are holding back on higher pig prices. They refer to impulse-free meat sales.

Stable European pig prices
The improved mood in Germany reduces the chance of further cuts in the pig market to zero. Typical of this are the European pig prices, which hit a bottom this week. There is a balance between supply and demand across Europe. The Netherlands and Germany are exceptions to this. Where in The Netherlands There is still supply pressure, German slaughterhouses are again asking for pigs.

One cause of this is the export of live pigs from the Netherlands to Germany. Those numbers were running back a lot in 2017. It looks like that trend will continue in 2018.