Search our website enhanced by Google.
Lamb market monthly update: December 2023
Thursday, 25 January 2024
Prices
The GB NSL liveweight SQQ measure for December sat an average price of 268.6p/kg. The month began at a price of 260.1p, before strengthening throughout December to a final price of 287.9p for the week ending 30 December 2023.
The GB NSL deadweight SQQ averaged 587.1p/kg in December. For the first week of December prices started at 585.8p, they then declined into the middle of the month, dropping by 1.5p for the week ending 23 December. They then once again gained some ground, reaching a final price of 598.4p.
Cull ewe prices strengthened throughout the month, averaging £84.32 per head for December.
Input costs
Fertiliser costs remained below last year’s levels in December, signifying the third month on month drop. However, remains elevated above December 2020 prices, influenced by increased natural gas prices and unrest in the Middle East. Fuel prices also fell once again into December, sitting below rates seen in December 2022.
Production
Sheep meat production fell marginally from November into December by 1%, to reach a total of 25,600 tonnes. Annually sheep production in down, with a year-on-year drop of 8% in for the final month of 2023. Clean sheep slaughter in December totalled 1.14m head, the lowest December kill seen since 2019.
Trade
UK fresh and frozen sheep meat imports grew month on month by 23% in November to 4,241 tonnes. In comparison to rates in November 2022 volumes almost doubled, increasing by 2,100 tonnes. Growing imports from Australia and New Zealand are responsible for a large proportion of this.
Exports grew by 7% month-on-month to a total of 8,020 tonnes in November, as well as 14% year-on-year. With growing demand from the EU, shipments of UK sheep meat have risen in November.
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.
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.
