Strong demand in France boosts lamb market
Processors quoted base prices from 344 back to 340 cents/kg (123p or 122p/lb), showing a slight increase on the pre-Christmas trade.
In the marts, prices were steady for the top quality butchers hoggets, but the factory lots were back €2 to €4 per head, with large supplies on offer at the sales for the start of the week.
In Britain, the trade has been mixed in recent days, with prices easing back as supplies coming to the market increased, before settling at the equivalent of 337 cents/kg (including VAT).
The trade has remained firm in France, supported by strong consumer buying for the celebration of a Muslim festival this week. The result has been an increase of 10 to 15 cents/kg on the pre-Christmas prices for Irish lamb imports. The trade in France boosted demand and added to prices at the Irish factories on Monday and Tuesday. But that boost was not reflected at mart sales, where prices slipped.
There was 500 head on offer at Fermoy Monday, where the trade was reported to be steady, with butchers paying €20 to €33 over €1/kg. Factory lots ranged from €8 to €21 over. At Kilkenny Mart, where there were 1,250 head on offer, factory lots were back by as much as €4 per head on pre-Christmas prices, and sold at €20 to €26 over, while butchers paid €24 to €36 over.
