Lambs prices spring ahead
Tighter supply improved the price, taking the base rate over 4/kg at the factories this week for hoggets, while prices also strengthened for spring lambs, closing in on 5/kg.
Base line prices are running at 400 to 415 cent/kg (143p to 148p/lb) for hoggets. Spring lambs are making 476 to 490 cent/kg (170p to 175p/lb), with the usual bonus payments applying in both categories.
Although numbers going through the factories week-on-week are at least one and half times the 2002 level, and year-to-date, the kill is nearly double last year’s, market conditions are generally better, and demand is out stepping the supply.
Domestic sales to the home market are strong, and exports are more than taking up the balance of the throughput. There was an improvement in the market in Britain over the past week, with prices closingf up, at the equivalent of 412 cent/kg (147p/lb), including VAT.
The strange but welcome situation in France is that while the market at consumer level continues to be sluggish, supplies have been weaker and, as a result, prices strengthened. By the weekend, Irish lambs were selling at 430 cent/kg (153p/lb) on the Rungis market.
The supply of spring lamb continues light, but is increasing each week.
