Pig and piglet prices strengthen across Europe

European pig and piglet prices have strengthened, supported by a combination of rising German quotations, tightening slaughter supplies in parts of Northern Europe, and strong demand for piglets.Ahead of spring and summer, European carcass and piglet prices continue to move higher. In week 10, the DCA EU-6 pork price reached €1.47 per kilo, 5 cents higher than the previous week. A crucial factor behind the higher price levels in Europe is the sharp increase in German quotations. VEZG prices have risen consistently since week 8, reaching €1.70 per kilo in week 12, which represents a 17.2% increase over the past month. Spanish prices also moved higher, with the week-11 quotation increasing by 5 cents to €1.145 per kilo. In contrast, the Danish market has yet to reflect this upward trend, as the Danish Crown slaughter price remains unchanged at €1.21 per kilo.The DCA Dutch pork price, which reflects the main relevant quotations in the Netherlands, increased by 5 cents. The price rose from €1.39 to €1.44 per kilo. This upward trend began in week 7, when prices reached a low of €1.25 per kilo. Since then, the average price has gradually strengthened.Slaughter figures also provide context for the recent price increases. In the Netherlands, pig slaughter numbers have declined, reflecting the structural reduction in production linked to farm closure schemes such as LBV+. Weekly slaughter volumes are about 10% lower than in the same period last year.A similar tightening in supply can also be observed in Poland. Carcass prices reached one of the highest levels in Europe at €1.67 per kilo. At the same time, Polish slaughter activity remains under pressure, with week-10 volumes totaling 212,784 heads, a 14.1% decline compared with last year. Nevertheless, the broader Northern European market appears more balanced, as slaughter volumes in Germany and Denmark are still running above last year’s levels in the early weeks of the year.Piglet prices rise even more stronglyPiglet prices tend to react more quickly and strongly to market changes than carcass prices, reflecting expectations. This dynamic is currently visible in the EU market. The EU-5 piglet index has increased more sharply than live and carcass prices, rising to €59.48 per head for 25-kg piglets.The movement is largely being driven by strong Spanish demand. Spanish piglet prices have reached around €60 per head for 20-kg piglets, equivalent to roughly €75 for 25-kg piglets. This strong demand wave is supporting piglet markets across Europe.As a result, the Dutch piglet index has also increased significantly. Prices rose from €34.10 in week 1 to €54.37 in week 11, representing a 59.4% increase.