February 4, 2013

Australia's 2013 wholesale meat prices lower on-year

As the gradual decline witnessed throughout the later stages of 2012 continued, the majority of the wholesale meat prices collected by Meat & Livestock Australia's (MLA) National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) have started 2013 lower than the corresponding period last year.

Beef and lamb wholesale prices across all cuts declined significantly compared to last year, with pork following a similar trend, with the exception of carcase sales which registered some increase.

Light lamb whole carcases declined US$1.69/kilogramme cwt on-year, while trade weight whole lamb carcases decreased US$1.90/kilogramme cwt for the same period in January. Young beef carcases (160-180kilogrammes cwt) were US$-.55 lower on-year to average US$3.875/kilogramme cwt in January. Pork leg ham trim wholesale prices lifted US$1.00 on-year in January, to average US$5.00/kilogramme cwt.

The Christmas period had a reduction in supply and seasonal increase in demand for quality grass fed yearling carcases. Comparatively, lamb supply had been plentiful over the New Year and heavy and trade weight lambs met strong demand. Demand for pork has eased since the peak Christmas period, however prices have risen during January due to shortage of supply.