Sheep prices continued to move higher, extending a trend that has remained largely uninterrupted since early 2024.
Lamb prices have risen from US$2.90/kg at the beginning of 2024 to around US$6.20/kg this week, an increase of 114% over the past two and a half years.
A similar trend has been seen in mutton prices. Finished ewes started 2024 at US$2.25/kg and are now trading around US$5.15/kg, up 129% over the past 30 months.
Sheep slaughter also increased last week. With three plants operating at significant capacity, 7,036 sheep were processed, the highest weekly total in seven weeks and more than 2,400 head above the previous week.
However, slaughter remained more than 3,000 head below the same week last year. Lambs accounted for 4,192 head, representing 60% of the total.
The three main processors were San Jacinto (3,543 head), Las Piedras (2,123) and Somicar (1,021).
