Ample pigs Offer

Slaughter at a high level

Still in Germany noticeably more pigs are slaughtered than a year ago. From January to mid-October 2003 fell a week to almost 665.000 animals for slaughter and thus about five percent more than the weekly average of the year 2002.

Probably the pigs offer in Germany remains large in the coming months. Based on the results of the latest livestock census was expected for the last quarter 2003 date with an amount which is slightly below the previous year's figure.

However, due to the growth delays in the summer months, the supply at the end of the year could turn out to be larger than expected. And the first quarter of 2004 may not bring the hoped-for relaxation on the market either, because according to the latest forecasts, a clear increase in supply can still be expected in early 2004. Also, supplies from abroad will likely continue to be plentiful due to the overall difficult sales situation in third country markets.

In view of this location and the typical seasonal market trend, the futures exchange is looking rather pessimistically into the future: For the beginning of the coming year, prices are expected to be well below 1,30 euros per kilogram slaughter weight. Only from March 2004 - according to the current opinion on the futures market - will the spot prices gradually rise again above the mark of 1,30 euros per kilogram.

Source: Bonn [ZmP]