Too many hooks, not enough stock: supply pressure bites processors

The lamb kill is well behind for the current season. (Image: NZME)

Thu, 26 Jun 2025

Competition among red meat processors for livestock is driving up farmgate prices.A shortage of stock and overcapacity in processing are forcing processors to compete harder on price for animals to put through their plants.While farmers benefit from the pricing tension, the procurement pressure ultimately squeezes processors’ margins.Some in the industry spoken to say farmgate prices aren’t disconnected from market realities, but others believe there are too many hooks and not enough stock to hang on them.Kill downAccording to the l...

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