Exports find support in September
Australian sheepmeat exports were lifted in September but remained below year-ago and five-year average volumes on the back of lower domestic slaughter and global trade dynamics. On the supply side, total sheep and lamb slaughter (based on weekly Meat & Livestock Australia data) for the year so far, has fallen 20% compared to 2025, putting […]
Bounce back in market as lamb supply slows
Sheep and lamb supply fell away again this week prompting a significant boost to the market right across the board. National indicators rose up to 60¢/kg for the week, making up some of the lost ground, which is common for spring but still sitting mainly lower than month-ago levels. Trade lambs climbed 58¢/kg for the […]
Queensland supply surge now shot?
Australian cattle slaughter is expected to hit its highest level since 1978 in 2026, having already hit that mark for the 2025-26 financial year. Female cattle slaughter was at a record high in the June quarter, and all three eastern states set new quarterly beef production records. Queensland, specifically, which had 43% of the national […]
Ewe records fall but so does NMI
Total sheep and lamb yardings fell slightly this week, but it didn’t help prices, with all major indicators ending lower. Restocker lambs and mutton are now the only two categories trending above year-ago levels, which is unsurprising, as that is likely where the most notable supply shortages are. Speaking of supply, with still a few […]
WA outpaces east coast young cattle gains
The cattle market has been generally trending lower over the past fortnight as spring supply ramps up. As we looked at in last week’s article, finished prices could be about to hit some resistance as the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator and the 90CL US imported beef price are now back at parody for the first […]
Cattle market eases from start of spring surge
The foot came off the gas just a touch this week as the cattle market eased slightly from last week. All major national indicators closed cheaper, albeit mostly by less than 10¢/kg, with restocker yearling heifers the only category to dip further. By all accounts, it is continuing to dry off in southern and eastern […]
Light lamb turnoff lags well behind
Last week we looked at the trading scenario when it comes to current lamb costs and returns. This week we turn to those that have already been fattened on-farm and see how the supply is tracking. With better seasonal conditions for much of the south through the traditional lamb growing season, the ratio of lambs […]
Spring brings out the suckers
The lamb market was slightly softer this week, but you’d still be hard pressed to find a producer who isn’t achieving some of their ‘best ever’ returns on lambs. Those with mutton to sell – especially cast for age ewes – are particularly happy with the money being made, and an uptick in numbers didn’t […]
China slows beef exports, but US momentum remains
Australian beef exports felt the effects of tariffs in August, but sustained demand from the United States and strong domestic supply kept volumes at historically high levels. Two of the top four markets for Australian beef have slowed in recent months, however year-to-date export levels are still sitting in record territory. While the impact of […]
Restockers returns still rolling in right direction
The cattle market maintained its upwards momentum over the past week as the arrival of spring buoyed prices further. All major categories have now been on a dearer trend for the past month, after falling throughout July. This bucked the historical trend of an improving market from mid-winter through to spring, before levelling out or […]
Sheep supply still sceptical
The average National Mutton Indicator price for the June quarter hit a new record this year on the back of plummeting sheep supply and subsequent slaughter. Recently released Australian Bureau of Statistics quarterly data shows just how much sheep supply has dipped this year and continued historically high prices have been confirming this. Now that […]
Mutton red hot as lamb supply dwindles
There were mixed results in the sheep and lamb market this week as wet weather in the south helped push yardings lower again. Restocker lamb returns felt the pinch on the back of poor demand in the west and cautious buying in the east. Mutton prices headed in the other direction, and new season lambs […]