27th November

Please circulate this update to all relevant staff within your business.

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Click Here for this week’s AIMS Market Update report. 

 

Please keep the information confidential within your business.

 

All AHDB, HCC, QMS and LMCMI Data is levy funded

 

Click Here for the current EU Poultry Dashboard for Week 46 2023

 

NOTE: There were no up to date prices from Bord Bia this week and the EU poultry prices are again ‘all over the place’. We are speaking with the EC about the poultry pricing this week in order to get a clearer view of the issues they are having.

 

To read the latest edition of AHDB Cattle & Sheep Weekly: Click Here

 

To read the latest edition of AHDB Pork Weekly: Click Here

 

Monthly statistics on the activity of UK hatcheries and UK poultry slaughterhouses (data for October 2023): Click Here

 

HCC News

 

Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) Market Bulletin – November 2023: Click Here

 

Results from industry-led project can enhance worldwide reputation of Welsh Lamb: Click Here

 

IGD Economics bulletin – 24th November: Click Here

 

Featuring an in-depth review of the Autumn Statement and economic forecasts, the impact on consumers and what this means for the food industry.

 

Where is the economy going?

 

How will consumers fare?

 

Which policy announcements will impact businesses?

 

IGD Viewpoint: The Autumn Statement – what this means for the food industry: Click Here

 

Rabobank

 

Infographic: Avian influenza in Brazil - More cases ahead? Click Here or to download Click Here

 

Commentary – Global Beef

 

Global beef markets continue to be a two-part story: the ongoing strong consumer demand in the US – although this may be weakening – accompanied by reduced cattle and beef supplies, and the weak demand and high inventory levels in Asia. Meanwhile, Southern Hemisphere production centers continue to increase volumes. 

 

Beef production in our monitored markets is expected to decline 1% YOY in 2023. The increases in Australia and Brazil have not been enough to offset the declines in Europe and the US. We forecast that 2024 will play out in a similar fashion.

 

Matching the two-part story of global beef markets, we continue to see North American cattle prices track at high levels, while in Southern Hemisphere countries, prices remain soft. 

 

Australian cattle prices dropped dramatically – down 28% since June – while New Zealand and Brazil also saw prices fall, but by smaller amounts. Cattle prices in the US were steady, while Canadian prices rose 3% between June and October.

 

Key Point: The conflict in the Middle East is not expected to materially impact beef trade. 

 

The import volumes of Israel and the Palestinian territories make up approximately 1% of global beef imports. If the conflict extends across the broader Middle East and North Africa region, the impact on global beef trade will remain relatively small.

 

Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland (LMCNI)

 

For the LMCNI Weekly bulletin, Saturday 25th November: Click Here

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20th November

Please circulate this update to all relevant staff within your business.

​

Click here for this week’s AIMS Market Update report. 

 

Please keep the information confidential within your business.

 

All AHDB, HCC, QMS and LMCMI Data is levy funded

 

Click Here for the current EU Poultry Dashboard for Week 45 2023

 

To read the latest edition of AHDB Cattle & Sheep Weekly: Click Here

 

To read the latest edition of AHDB Pork Weekly: Click Here

 

Office for National Statistics: Retail sales, Great Britain: October 2023: Click Here

 

Food stores sales volumes fell by 0.3% in October 2023, from being unchanged (0.0%) in September 2023.

 

Supermarkets reported an increase in sales volumes of 0.2% over the month while both specialist food stores (such as butchers and bakers), and alcohol and tobacco stores reported falls of 4.2% and 10.4%, respectively. Feedback from these retailers suggested that consumers were buying cheaper products and prioritising important items.

 

To read BRC’s response to the figures: Click Here

 

Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) Market Commentary

 

Sheep Prices

 

The average lamb SQQ price at Welsh auction markets experienced a significant price increase during the most recent week with the average now standing at 258.7p/kg – a level similar to that seen during late July this year. 

 

The increase occurred whilst the number of lambs coming forward was up by 28% on the week, and the highest number recorded since the Summer. 

 

Prices remain above year-earlier levels by 30p, and some 52p above the five-year average. The cull ewe average price in Wales reached £3/head following a £6.50 increase on the week. This is an improvement of £7.40/head on the year. 

 

Cattle Prices

 

The average steer deadweight price in England and Wales recorded an increase of almost 2p on the week to stand at 477.0p/kg. 

 

The number of steers coming forward fell by some 3% on the week at just over 10,700 head. 

 

The current price is 36p higher than year-earlier levels, and almost £1 higher than the longer term 5-year average. 

 

The cull cow average recorded yet another decline on the week – down by 1.5p to stand at 291.1p/kg. As a result, the average continues to trend below the £3/kilo mark, with the average some 36p lower than year-earlier levels. 

 

Over 9,800 head of cull cows came forward during the week – the highest weekly level recorded for a number of years.

 

IGD Economics bulletin – Friday 17th November: Click Here

 

Your overview of economic and policy news with a focus on the food and consumer goods industry. 

 

This week’s bulletin focuses on inflation, food price inflation, food industry value, wages and unemployment. 

 

• Inflation declines sharply

• Food inflation also down

• Food industry value

• Wages rising

• Unemployment rising

 

AHDB Market Commentary

 

Sheep market update: prices hold firm throughout October: Click Here

 

Key points:

 

• GB finished prices remain firm, averaging 564p/kg for October.

• Defra clean sheep slaughter is higher than September, up to 1.1m head.

• Liveweight SQQ prices grew in October, up 4p to 255p/kg.

• Store trade continues to be strong as prices remain above last year.

• Imports of sheep meat have grown, as volumes from Australia rise.

 

Members may also find this commentary of interest: October 2023 dairy market review: Click Here

 

Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland (LMCNI)

 

For the LMCNI Weekly bulletin, Saturday 18th November: Click Here

 

And Finally…  

 

The UK Robotics Industry: Interview with Mike Wilson - Chief Automation Officer, Manufacturing Technology Centre: Click Here

 

Extract: In terms of robotics adoption within industry, how does the UK compare to other countries? 

 

The UK lags most of our major competitors for robot adoption. The International Federation of Robotics measures robot density, the number of robots per 10,000 employees in manufacturing industry. The UK currently ranks 24th on this table with a robot density of 111 which is below the world average.

 

There are a number of likely reasons for this situation including a general unwillingness to invest in capital equipment with short paybacks often being required and perceptions the technology is expensive and requires skilled personnel to operate and maintain.

 

To visit the Manufacturing Technology Centre’s website and find out more about their work in the food industry: Click Here

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