The latest market information for January to May shows the effect of tighter hogget supplies on Irish sheepmeat exports. The volume of sheepmeat exported was recorded at 19,195t, a fall of 7% or 1,473t on the corresponding period in 2018.

The reduction is not surprising when you take account that hogget throughput fell by 88,923 head while ewe and ram throughput reduced by 30,032 head.

These reductions were compensated for somewhat by spring lamb throughput increasing by 30,371 head, while another major factor lessening the full influence of tighter supplies was a significant increase in average carcase weight of hoggets.

While the latter helped supplies, overweight and out-of-spec hoggets are reported as presenting marketing issues.

Figure 1 details a breakdown of exports per country and also lists the percentage change on 2018.

The two figures which instantly stand out are a worrying continued reduction in exports to the French market and exports to the UK. The volume of sheepmeat exported to France fell by 543t with a similar reduction of 607t recorded from 2017 to 2018.

Consumption falling on an annual basis is a big concern while consumer sentiment around a perceived link to climate change and meat consumption, along with a growing anti-meat lobby group, is having an impact

Declan Fennell, Bord Bia market specialist, says a number of factors are contributing to pressure on export levels. Consumption falling on an annual basis is a big concern while consumer sentiment around a perceived link to climate change and meat consumption, along with a growing anti-meat lobby group, is having an impact. This, he says, is relevant to all continental EU markets.

Another challenge in 2019 was wet and cold weather in May which limited sales. This, and reduced availability, had an influence in high-value markets of Germany, Belgium and Sweden.

Aggressive marketing

This pressure on sales followed forward to June and July with extreme temperatures slowing sales. Declan also points out more aggressive marketing of exports from the UK and Spain as eroding market share.

He says the UK was particularly active in the early part of the year to drive exports before the initial Brexit deadline of 29 March with this focus persisting.

To date, exports from the UK to France are up 28%, while exports to Germany increased by 50% to over 5,400t.

The higher exports opened up demand for lower-value cuts with mutton particularly in demand. This helped to boost Irish exports to the UK with volumes moving increasing by 387t. The Canadian market deserves mention with export volumes growing steadily from a low base, while unfortunately exports to Hong Kong halved.