Sheepmeat Prices Remain Elevated as Tight Supply Supports Lamb and Mutton Markets
Global sheep sector market report — June 2026
Lamb and mutton prices remained firm in several key sheepmeat markets in mid-June, with recent market reports from Great Britain, Ireland and Australia showing tight supply, active processor demand and elevated price levels across prime lamb and mutton categories.
The latest figures were released during the seasonal transition from old season lambs to new season lambs in Britain and Ireland, while Australia continued to report reduced slaughter numbers and restricted sheepmeat availability. Market sources said the supply situation was supporting prices, although weekly movements differed between deadweight, liveweight, lamb, hogget, mutton and cull ewe categories.
Great Britain: deadweight new season lambs remain at record levels
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board reported on 18 June that deadweight sheep prices in Great Britain remained at record highs in the week ending 13 June.
According to AHDB, the deadweight new season lamb standard quality quotation increased by 2p on the week to 938p/kg. The organisation said the figure was 128p/kg above the previous record high for the same week, recorded in 2024.
AHDB said sheep numbers remained constrained as old season lamb supplies came to an end and new season supplies appeared limited. The organisation said supply tightness was supporting the current level of deadweight prices.
The same report showed weaker movement in liveweight markets. AHDB reported that liveweight prices eased across all sheep categories in the latest week, moving more in line with usual seasonal trends. The liveweight new season lamb SQQ fell by 16p on the week to 454p/kg, while cull ewe prices fell by £11/head to average £153/head.
Estimated clean sheep slaughter in Great Britain also fell sharply on the week. AHDB reported estimated clean sheep slaughter at 168,000 head for the week ending 13 June.
The report was published as the British sheep trade continued its seasonal shift from old season to new season lambs. AHDB said the end of old season supplies and limited new season availability were central to the current price picture.
Ireland: factories reported anxious for spring lambs
The Irish Farmers’ Association reported on 19 June that lamb prices in Ireland remained steady and strong.
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said factories were paying up to €10.10/kg and €10.20/kg for spring lambs on weights to 21.5kg. Hogget prices were reported at €9.20/kg to €9.50/kg. The association said factories remained anxious for lambs as numbers continued to tighten on the ground.
The IFA update said spring lamb throughput was more than 3,000 head above the corresponding week in 2025, while hogget throughput was falling each week. The association said this left the number of suitably fit lambs on the ground tight for processing.
The IFA price table for 18 June listed spring lambs at €9.80/kg to €10.20/kg, hoggets at €9.30/kg to €9.50/kg on weights to 23kg, and ewes at €5.10/kg to €5.50/kg.
Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine supply figures cited in the IFA update showed total sheep throughput of 34,768 head in week 24, ending 14 June. The weekly total included 4,927 lambs and hoggets, 23,385 spring lambs, and 6,456 ewes and rams.
Year-to-date sheep throughput was listed at 935,307 head, down 30,238 on the year. Lambs and hoggets were reported at 686,254 head, down 58,409, while spring lambs were listed at 133,992 head, down 10,327.
Official Irish prices cited in the same update showed the national average sheep price at 942.83c/kg including VAT in week 24. The figure was up 20c on the previous week and 120c above the 2025 comparison.
Australia: lamb and mutton supply remains tight
Australian market updates also pointed to tight sheepmeat availability.
Elders reported in its latest sheep market update that lamb values had largely ranged from A$10.50/kg to A$11.50/kg dressed weight for much of the year. Mutton values were reported between A$7.50/kg and A$8.50/kg dressed weight for most of the year.
The report said processor demand had adjusted when prices moved outside those ranges, helping keep values generally stable at traditionally high levels through autumn.
Elders reported that year-to-date lamb kill was down 14 percent. The decline in production was described as slightly smaller because of higher carcase weights. The company said improved seasonal conditions and increased lamb feeding had enabled producers to turn off lambs at heavier weights.
The mutton kill was reported to have fallen more sharply. Elders said mutton kills were down 36 percent year-to-date, with improved seasonal conditions across key regions turning producers towards rebuilding.
The same report said overall lamb export volumes were down 11 percent year-to-date. Elders said Australia had increased the proportion of exports going to higher-value markets, including the United States, China and the United Kingdom.
The company said those three countries, together with Middle East markets, account for 85 percent of Australian lamb exports.
Elders said supplies remained constrained for now, but added that some relief could approach spring. The report said agents were seeing healthy lambs on strong fodder crops, while some southern areas had begun to see improved water conditions after two to three years of pressure.
Australian mutton prices reach record levels
Australian mutton prices also reached record levels in June, according to a 17 June report from Sheep Central.
The report said mutton prices had averaged above A$9/kg carcase weight and reached up to A$10/kg in some saleyards during the week. It said the rise came as supplies remained scarce and some processors were planning possible extended winter shutdowns.
Sheep Central reported that Meat & Livestock Australia’s mutton indicator had reached 889c/kg. The figure was reported 34c higher than the previous week and more than 200c above the same period a year earlier.
The report cited industry sources who linked the price movement to restricted sheep supply, processor demand and export interest in mutton as a lower-priced alternative to lamb.
The Sheep Central report also said mutton export volumes had fallen this year, with supply shortages and logistics issues affecting shipments to some markets. The report cited analyst comments indicating that global mutton exports had declined each month this year because of limited supply.
MLA weekly data shows mutton indicator continuing record run
Meat & Livestock Australia’s weekly cattle and sheep market wrap, published on 19 June, also showed the mutton market continuing to strengthen.
MLA reported that all sheep market indicators fell except the mutton indicator, which continued its record-breaking run and lifted 2 percent to 884c/kg carcase weight.
The national lamb yarding was reported up 16 percent to 140,620 head, while sheep yarding rose 55 percent to 54,290 head. MLA said the restocker lamb indicator fell 0.3 percent to 1,224c/kg carcase weight across an offering of 23,214 head.
The MLA update said New South Wales yards generally made premiums, with Wagga contributing 20 percent of the restocker lamb offering and recording the best price at 1,448c/kg carcase weight.
The data showed a mixed Australian sheep market in the week, with increased yardings and weaker lamb indicators but continued strength in the mutton category.
Sector outlook tied to supply and seasonal timing
The latest reports indicate that sheepmeat prices remain closely tied to short-term supply availability, seasonal lamb flows and processor requirements.
In Great Britain, AHDB identified the end of old season lamb supplies and limited new season availability as key factors behind record deadweight new season lamb prices. In Ireland, IFA reported strong spring lamb prices and tightening numbers of suitable lambs for processing. In Australia, Elders and Sheep Central reported lower slaughter volumes, restricted mutton availability, strong dressed-weight values and continued processor interest.
The coming weeks are expected to show whether new season lamb supply in Britain and Ireland increases enough to ease price pressure. In Australia, Elders said lamb supply may improve approaching spring, although the company also noted that reductions in flock numbers and ewe lamb retention for rebuilding were likely to keep supply constrained.
The latest available data points to a sheepmeat market still supported by constrained availability, with significant variation between countries, selling routes and livestock categories.
Sources
Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board — Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap, 18 June 2026: https://ahdb.org.uk/news/weekly-cattle-and-sheep-market-wrap
Irish Farmers’ Association — Beef & Sheep Update, 19 June 2026: https://www.ifa.ie/markets-and-prices/beef-sheep-update-19th-june/
Elders — Latest sheep market update, June 2026: https://elders.com.au/for-farmers/market-insights/latest-sheep-market-update
Sheep Central — Mutton market prices hit record levels, 17 June 2026: https://www.sheepcentral.com/mutton-market-prices-hit-record-levels-but-for-how-long/
Meat & Livestock Australia — Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap, 19 June 2026: https://www.mla.com.au/news-and-events/industry-news/19062026-weekly-cattle-and-sheep-market-wrap/