Base lamb quotes remain stuck in gear, despite some fleeting signs of more life in the trade over the last week.

Ballon Meats continues to offer the highest quote of €7.80/kg.

The two Irish Country Meats (ICM) plants in Camolin and Navan remain on a base of €7.50/kg plus their 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment, with Kildare Chilling also unchanged at a base of €7.60/kg plus 10c/kg QA.

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Reports from plants not offering an official quote point to them working from a base of €7.55/kg to €7.60/kg and a similar opening price of €7.70/kg for QA lambs.

Groups are trading in the main at €7.80/kg to €7.85/kg, with some higher-priced deals rising 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher.

There are also some sellers handling large numbers or working closely with plants and trading at the top end of the market securing prices rising to €7.95/kg to €8/kg.

However, these deals vary from day to day depending on demand and are generally confined to a small number of sellers handling big numbers.

Supply and demand remains finely balanced. There are some reports of agents exhibiting a slightly stronger appetite, which is evident in a more positive tone in some mart sales.

This is seen more in the east of the country, where numbers are tighter in supply.

Last week’s sheep kill rebounded slightly from the previous week with a day’s less processing, but still remains below the norm at 37,811 head. This included 33,802 lambs and just 3,952 ewes.

Some agents are exhibiting more interest in ewes and this is also seen to varying degrees in the mart trade.

Kildare Chilling has increased its quote for better-quality ewes over 35kg carcase weight to €4.30/kg plus 10c/kg QA, while ewes less than 35kg carcase weight remain at €3.70/kg plus 10c/kg QA.

ICM are unchanged at €4.30/kg, with farmers reported as having more success in securing returns of €4.40/kg to €4.50/kg for good-quality ewes.

At the top end of the market, plants such as Ballon Meats and abattoirs most active for ewes are paying to €5/kg upwards delivered to precise specifications.

Northern Ireland

Base quotes in Northern Ireland are steady this week at £6.40/kg or the equivalent of €7.25/kg at Wednesday afternoon’s exchange rate of 88.3p to the euro.

Groups and regular sellers are being paid upwards of £6.50/kg, but plants are trying to limit this level of payment.

Figures from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs show the number of sheep exported to Ireland for direct slaughter last week reducing by about 700 head at 3,361 sheep. Exports to Britain for direct slaughter jumped by almost 1,300 head to 1,496 sheep.

The latest market update from the AHDB shows lamb prices increasing by 12p/kg to average £6.75/kg (€7.65/kg).