According to IFA pig committee chair Pat O'Flaherty, Dawn Pork and Bacon and Staunton's have increased their pig price by 4c/kg to €1.62/kg. Meanwhile, Kepak is reported to have increased its own price by 2c/kg to €1.58/kg.

"It's an improvement, but we're at 93% of the EU average price, while in previous years we were at 105%," O'Flaherty told the Irish Farmers Journal. "There seems to be a time lag: we should go back to that 105%. Imports are down, export are up, so there is no reason why prices should be where they are," he added.

According to the European Commission's meat market observatory, the average EU price has stabilised in recent weeks at €1.64/kg after a steady recovery since May from last winter's lows of below €1.30/kg.

With severe adverse weather in pig-producing regions of China and declining sow numbers in Europe, markets are expected to strengthen further in the coming months.

The break-even price for pig farmers according to Teagasc is €1.55/kg.

WTO declares 2014 Russian pork ban illegal

Several factories increase pig prices

Dawn Pork and Bacon, Staunton's and Kepak are reported to be paying more for pigs this week, but Irish prices still lag beind the EU average.