Irish sheep prices in 2016 are running €1/kg behind its main export market of France.

For the year to date, Irish lamb prices have averaged €5.02/kg while domestic French sheep prices averaged €6.07/kg.

Domestic lamb prices in France are €6.60/kg with French importers paying €5.60/kg for Irish lamb imports. A strong French lamb trade will help to instil confidence among Irish sheep producers ahead of the Eid-Al-Adha festival in September.

France is Ireland’s main export market, taking 34% (16,000t) of the total volume of sheepmeat exported in 2015. The next largest market is Britain, where prices are on a par with Ireland at €5.03/kg for the year to date. Britain imported 12,000t of Irish sheep meat in 2015.

Northern Ireland has an average sheep price of €4.82/kg, making it extremely competitive with Irish lamb this year. Imports of NI sheep are running around 29%, or 50,000 head higher than last year.