Producers in better mood as lamb trade improves
Most of the processors have increased the quoted prices by at least 5c/kg while some factories are up 10c/kg from last week.
The majority of the plants are on a base of 470c/kg plus the usual bonus of up to 10c/kg for quality. There is a little bit of 460c/kg around, while the option of an all-in price of 480c/kg is being offered at one processor.
Very few of the lambs are being sold at the quoted price with the general return in the range 490c/kg to 500c/kg according to the reports from around the country.
At the mart sales on Monday entries were larger with very little change in the trade from last week.
There were 950 head on offer at Corrin Mart where the butchers paid up to €68 over and the factory lambs peaked at €51 over. Kilkenny Mart had an entry of 910 head with butchers’ lambs selling for up to €66 over and factory lots making up to €60 over.
In Britain, there has been some recovery in supply during the past week which has resulted in an ease in prices. The lambs were making the equivalent of around 468c/kg during the week.
In France, lower activity than expected has been reported for last week on the back of slow demand with plentiful supplies of competitively priced UK lamb on the market. It is hoped that demand will rise in line with the Muslim festival of Eid-al-Adha.
Extensive retail promotions are taking place, focusing mainly on fresh and frozen imported and domestically produced product including forequarter, steaks, legs and chops.
Grade 1 lamb in Rungis was making around 515c/kg (including Vat) towards the end of the week.
