Contrasting trends in EU pig prices have developed in recent weeks with northern Europe performing better than southern member states, according to AHDB Pork.
German and Belgian prices have risen by €11 (£8) and €8 (£5.80) respectively in the last four weeks with Danish and Dutch prices also gaining during the same period. In southern Europe, meanwhile, Spanish and French prices have fallen, by around €7 (£5) and €4 (£3) per 100kg respectively.
“The gap between UK and the EU average price has also narrowed slightly in euro terms, to around €30 per 100kg, having been €42 per 100kg in mid-August,” said AHDB Pork, adding that in sterling terms, the gap narrowed from 30p/kg to 22p/kg over the same period.
The EU average pig reference price has also benefitted from a recent improvement in EU exports of fresh and frozen pork, largely driven by strong import demand from China.