Mart prices slip as exports weaken

MONDAY prices at sheep processing factories were unchanged from a week earlier, but prices slipped at the live sales.

Factory quotes for the week opened at 355 or 354 cents/kg (127p/lb), with some processors dropping to a base of 350 cents/kg (125p/lb) for Tuesday’s kill.

The supply to the factories has increased, and is now on par with this time last year. But export markets are not as strong as they were 12 months ago, and any increase in supply is likely to have a negative impact on prices.