High lamb prices in France set to ease
High lamb prices in France set to ease
LAMB exports remain tight with supplies in France running close to demand.
According to The Irish Food Board, Bord Bia, imported lamb is trading in Rungis market in France at 25-25.5 francs/kg dw (240-245p/kg). But with supplies from the UK apparently down, and New Zealand imports to France and the UK increasing, lamb values may just begin to ease. The SQQ, the average auction market price, closed on Monday at 112p/kg, down 0.7p/kg on the week.
Trade reports suggest there is some consumer resistance. "Demand is slowing a little as lamb is the most expensive product in the market," says Sattar Khalid, managing director of Euro Quality Lambs.
"It experienced an upturn in purchases in the wake of the BSE crisis on the Continent, due to lambs natural green image." But, he says, France has now started to import Spanish lambs, as well as New Zealand, so there is more pressure on exports. *