Brazilian beef ban boosts confidence in Irish trade
Some factories continue to quote a base of 630c/kg for steers, but the more general base price being paid is 640c/kg, with some suppliers of larger numbers of quality animals reporting that a base of 650c/kg is being achieved.
There is a firmer tone to the beef trade at the factories, where average prices have strengthened amid demand for stock, with more positivity about the export markets going forward.
Some factories continue to quote a base of 630c/kg for steers, but the more general base price being paid is 640c/kg, with some suppliers of larger numbers of quality animals reporting that a base of 650c/kg is being achieved.
The same applies to the heifer trade. Last week’s base of 640c/kg has more generally become 650c/kg this week, and up to 660c/kg is being paid for quality, in-spec numbers.
Cow prices have also firmed to a base of 640c/kg for R-grades, with strong interest from the factories for numbers. R-grade young bulls are working off a base range of 640-650c/kg this week.
The export market enters a new phase this week, which appears to be boosting positivity and creating a stronger appetite for intake at the factories.
The EU has exercised its muscle over issues of quality control in beef production in Brazil, and a ban has been imposed on imports to the EU with effect from today until its production quality controls become more transparent and compliant with the controls in place within the EU.
While the EU ban does not apply to imports into Britain, the EU concerns are likely to raise consumer concerns in Britain, with a possible impact on sales of Brazilian supplies.
Year-to-date supplies to Irish factories are down just shy of 47,000 on the same period in 2025, with an average weekly intake of 30,000 head, which is the lowest for more than a decade.
However, the intake at the factories over recent weeks has been 5,000-6,000 head up on the 2025 level and, as a result, the year-to-date deficit is now narrowing week by week.
Despite some sources within the processing sector having claimed during the year that cold stores at the factories were bursting with stocks, it is becoming clearer that processors are now anxious to build up throughput for the months to the year-end.
The speculation is that stronger demand in EU markets is anticipated to fill the void created by the ban on imports from Brazil, while demand for Irish beef in the UK could also benefit if consumers there react adversely to concerns over production quality controls on beef in Brazil.
Supply continues to edge upwards week on week. Last week’s intake was 32,251 head, around 5,600 more than the same week last year, and included 14,217 steers, 9,533 heifers, 6,719 cows and 1,503 young bulls.
