ANALYSIS: US Lamb Holds Its Breath as Tight Supplies Meet Holiday Buying

August is traditionally the quietest month for US lamb consumption. Summer heat, fewer retail promotions, and the gap between spring holidays and the Q4 buying season keep interest limited. Despite this seasonal slowdown, prices remain at record highs. US carcass lamb EBPs for weight classes 45 to 85 is trading at $6.15/lb, nearly 40% above last year, while the 204 Rack, 8-Rib EBP reached a 52-week high of $15.625/lb. Supplies remain tight, with...

ANALYSIS: Growing Halal Demand Reshapes US Lamb Supply

The most important change in the US lamb market is that approximately 50% of commercially processed lambs are entering the Halal market, according to market participants. These animals are generally slaughtered at 65–90 lbs live, compared with 130–145 lbs for conventionally finished lambs. Halal rules do not require lighter animals, but many customers prefer smaller, leaner lambs for traditional meals, whole-animal purchases, and religious celebrations.

Halal buyers are willing to pay a premium for lighter lambs, often purchasing them before they reach a sale barn or...

ANALYSIS: China’s H1 2026 Meat Imports Retreat on Domestic Surplus and Safeguard Walls

China’s total meat imports, including offal, concluded the first half of 2026 on a downward trajectory, according to data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

Cumulative H1 volumes reached 3,110,000 metric tons (MT). This marks a 3.0% contraction compared to the same six-month period last year. The decline intensifies a multi-year deceleration that began in...

ANALYSIS: AU & NZ Lamb Imports into US, Lower on Tight Supply 

Imported lamb volumes, both fresh and frozen, are trending lower in 2026 compared to prior years, with the decline more pronounced in fresh product. Fresh imports are down approximately 22.3% year over year (YOY), while frozen imports are down 14.3% YOY. A clear softening in weekly fresh volumes began in mid-February and has extended through March, with several weeks falling materially below the three-year average, indicating supply...

ANALYSIS: US Lamb Weights Running Lighter Compared With Recent Years 

US lamb weights in 2026 are running lighter compared with recent years, though stronger slaughter levels have supported overall production. According to USDA federally inspected data, the 2026 year to date (YTD) average lamb live weight is 122 pounds, compared with 129 pounds during the same YTD period in 2025. Producers have also continued to market lambs earlier amid dry pasture conditions and higher feed costs, potentially shortening days on feed. 

At the same time, YTD slaughter has increased to 257.1 thousand head in 2026 versus 242 thousand head in 2025. As a result, despite lighter weights, total lamb production has increased...

ANALYSIS: US Lamb Weights Trending Lighter

US lamb liveweights have been trending below year-ago levels in recent weeks, with USDA Federally Inspected weekly slaughter data showing averages 6 to 9 pounds lighter than the same period in 2024. Early September weights came in around 112 to 114 pounds, down from the 121 to 122 pound range seen during this same time last year. While the year-to-date average is holding near 123 pounds, roughly flat with 2024, it masks a consistent seasonal downtrend that began in late June...