Lamb importers predict ‘crash’

Press, 23 April 1987, Page 2

Lamb importers predict ‘crash’

By

HELENA WISNIEWSKI

NZPA staff correspondent London Some New Zealand lamb importers predict a “crash” in this season’s lamb sales in Britain, with a possible further drop next year, according to the “Meat Trades Journal.” Over-all New Zealand lamb sales in Britain this year were forecasted to be just over 100,000 tonnes — well below the initial target of 120,000 to 125,000 tonnes, the journal said.

Mr Peter Bartram, of Weddel and Company, one of the five main importers of New Zealand lamb into Britain, said the final figure could be as low as 80,000 tonnes this year. In 1983 almost 200,000 tonnes of New Zealand lamb was imported into Britain. “Only three years ago we could not imagine dropping below 100,000 tonnes of the commodity side, but this year could be as low as 80,000 tonnes,” Mr Bartram told the journal. “Everything points to there being a further drop next year too.” Part of the problem

was caused by the extended availability of British home-grown lamb, he said. The only period the Importers could pass out lamb in large volumes was between May and July.

“But that is not our only problem. Our flock is contracting annually and our choice of carcases has been restricted this year because of an oversupply of light lambs.” The reduction in carcase size was partly the result of an unusually dry summer in New Zealand, he said, but the withdrawal of Government subsidies for producers had also meant “trapped” farmers had abandoned fertiliser and had cut back in shepherding.

The lost sales were very difficult to pick up again, Mr Bartram said.