Modest uplift for liveweight lamb prices

Thursday, 12 August 2021

By Bethan Wilkins

Previous downward pressure in the liveweight lamb trade eased off in the week ended 11 August. The weekly average GB liveweight NSL SQQ was up nearly 7p on the week at 234.0p/kg.

The week started on Thursday 5 August with the GB NSL SQQ falling by over 5p on the week to 225.8p/kg. However, daily prices recorded after this were increasingly higher. Prices were over 10p above the previous week on both Tuesday and Wednesday, and not far off 240p/kg.

Numbers coming through auction markets continued to look tight, which perhaps enabled some growth in price levels following the sharp drop last week. Weekly throughputs totalled 100,400 head, 2% lower than last week and 22% behind last year. If numbers coming forward remain limited, this might stall further downward price pressure; however, relatively high prices do challenge our export competitiveness.

Reflecting the sharp decline previously recorded in the liveweight trade, the deadweight lamb trade came under pressure in the week ended 7 August. At 528.8p/kg, the GB deadweight NSL SQQ was nearly 37p lower than the previous week.

AHDB estimates suggest that slaughter was higher than the previous week, though still considerably below 2020 levels.


Sign up for regular updates

You can subscribe to receive Beef and Lamb market news straight to your inbox. Simply fill in your contact details on our online form.

Visit the Keep in touch page

While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.

All intellectual property rights in the information and data on this webpage belong to or are licensed by AHDB. You are authorised to use such information for your internal business purposes only and you must not provide this information to any other third parties, including further publication of the information, or for commercial gain in any way whatsoever without the prior written permission of AHDB for each third party disclosure, publication or commercial arrangement. For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice or contact the Director of Corporate Affairs at info@ahdb.org.uk  © Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. All rights reserved. 

×