Business and Policy August 2025 – Sheep

New Season Lamb Trade 

On the week ending the 19th of July 2025, AHDB has new season lamb at 743.99p/kg DW which is a rise of 13.33p/kg DW on the week and 96.7 p/kg DW on the year.  

The weekly average Scottish prime sheep price is now higher than the 2024 price for the first time since March.  

 

Weekly Average Scottish Prime Sheep Prices 

The total lambs slaughtered in GB for the week have reduced by over 20,000 head of clean sheep, helping to sustain the price.

 

Week ending 19 Jul 25	Number	Change on week	Change on year
GB	162,905	+51465	-20,282

Source AHDB 

 

The first of the store lamb sales have been met with strong demand with no official report. Prices were reaching well in excess of last year with lambs achieving £125 per head upwards, which is approximately £20 up on the year. 

 

Imports and Exports 

The table below shows that between January and May 2024 and January and May 2025 UK exports have increased by 5,349 tonnes from 33,351 tonnes to 38,700 tonnes and imports have increased by 3,415 tonnes from 30,310 tonnes to 33,725 tonnes. It also shows clearly that in 2024 and 2025 UK is a net exporter of sheep meat by 3,041 tonnes and 4,975 tonnes respectively. While the UK exports the majority of its meat as fresh meat; the majority of the imports are from frozen meat.

 

	Exports			Imports
	2024	2025	Difference	2024	2025	Difference
	(t)	(t)	(t)	(t)	(t)	(t)
Fresh Sheep Meat	29,131	33,569	4,438	6,344	4,609	-1,735
Frozen Sheep Meat	2,069	1,915	-154	20,413	24,832	4,419
Processed	196	158	-38	497	341	-156
Offal	1,955	3,058	1,103	3,055	3,944	889
Total	33,351	38,700	5,349	30,310	33,727	3,415

Amended from AHDB sheep meat data 

The table below indicates that while the EU in January to May exports exceeds the non-EU exports growing by 4,917 tonnes between 2024 and 2025; on a percentage basis, this increase is at 15.7% is less than the Non-EU exports increase of 21% over the tonnage exported in 2024.   

On the flip side, imports are predominantly from non-EU sources, and this has grown by 3,872 tonnes which equates to a 15% increase between 2024 and 2025.  Imports from the EU fell by 455 tonnes over the same period, a fall of 10.3%. 

 

	Exports			Imports
	2024	2025	Difference	2024	2025	Difference
	(t)	(t)	(t)	(t)	(t)	(t)
EU	31,295	36,212	+4,917	4,412	3,957	-455
Non-EU	2,055	2,488	+433	25,898	29,770	+3,872
Total	33,351	38,700	+5,349	30,310	33,727	+3,415

Amended from AHDB sheep meat data 

While tonnages are important, with positive changes in sheep meat prices, the value of exports to May 2025 was £283,263,670, up £35,975,149 on the total export value to May 2024 of £247,288,521, an increase of 14.5%.  Although the value of imports were over £103 million less at £180,231,901 to May 2025, they were up £45,562,693 on the import value to May 2024, a rise in value of 31.8%. 

 

Annette Marshall; 07747736877  

 

Week ending	GB deadweight (p/kg)				Scottish auction (p/kg)				Ewes (£/hd)
	16.5 – 21.5kg								Scottish
	R3L	Change on week	Diff over R2	Diff over R3H	Med.	Change on week	Diff over stan.	Diff over heavy	All
5-July-25	736.8	-11.3	3.4	3.6	342.10	-17.70	9.2	5.80	132.92
12-July-25	733.1	8.4	3.9	3.9	360.30	18.20	25.6	3.90	135.98
19-July-25	746.4	-1.0	1.3	0.8	361.00	0.7	19	1.30	135.69
26-July-25	757.2	10.8	0.9	0.8	345.79	-15.21	18.83	5.28	128.34

 

Deadweight prices may be provisional.  Auction price reporting week is slightly different to the deadweight week.      Source: AHDB and IAAS

Standard weight 32.1 – 39.0kg; Medium weight 39.1 – 45.5kg; Heavy 45.6 – 52.0kg 

Note: From 11th May, prices transition to new season lambs