Smithfield market

Press, 16 November 1981, Page 24

Smithfield market

New Zealand lamb wholesale prices in the United Kingdom last week weakened further, reports the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board in its weekly market review.

This was against a background of slower off-take for all red meats. The wholesale prices of domestic lamb, however, increased. This was entirely because of a firm export trade, as domestic

retail off-take has been slow in recent weeks because of adverse consumer reaction to higher prices. On Smithfield market New Zealand lamb was quoted at 63 -65 p per lb for PL grade, and PM grade made 65 -67 p per lb. Small English lambs were 69 -78 p per lb. There was a slight improvement in imported beef prices in the United States market last week as a result of an increase in U.S. domestic boneless beef realisations. New Zealand boneless beef averaged an estimated 104 US cents per lb c.i.f., up 3c on the previous week.

The mutton market remains very weak in Japan, with the bulk of trade in Australian mutton. Australian carcases prices were quoted at 52 - 54 US cents per lb c. and f., and New Zealand old season product was offered at 56 - 57 US cents per lb.