Lamb/Boneless Leg
US boneless lamb leg values averaged $6.88/lb in November, holding a steady tone month to month with no meaningful price movement from October. Year over year, values were down 9.0%, reflecting a market that carried adequate domestic supplies alongside a slower holiday buying period compared with last year. Seasonal interest tied to Thanksgiving and early Christmas needs offered some support, though participants described overall November demand as moderate with adequate product availability throughout the period. It should be noted that interest in early December has increased ahead of Christmas for last-minute needs.
Imported Australian and New Zealand chilled boneless lamb legs averaged $5.89/lb in November, increasing 5.7% month over month and running 17% higher year over year. The imported complex continued to show active demand and held a clear price advantage through much of the year, supported by steady interest from retailers and foodservice operators preparing for holiday needs. Exportable supplies from Australia and New Zealand remained barely adequate, which maintained a mostly steady to full steady tone across the imported lamb leg market.
Shrimp
Over the past several months, the 16-20 Easy Peel market has experienced significant volatility, shaped by a convergence of supply disruptions and escalating costs from key sources. Indonesia—traditionally the dominant exporter for this product—has faced a series of regulatory headwinds, including heightened FDA activity; the implementation of automatic detention for certain packers; and substantial delays in export health certification due to slow radioactivity testing. At the same time, India—another principal supplier—is now subject to a 50% tariff, which has severely curtailed its competitiveness in the US market.
These developments have forced US importers to pivot toward Ecuador for supply. However, while Ecuador has ample raw material, its processing capacity for value-added product remains limited, constraining its ability to offset the decline from Asian origins. As a result, availability has tightened considerably and pricing for 16-20 Easy Peel has reacted accordingly—climbing from the mid-$4.60s to around $5.80 since the initial tariff announcement in early April. This rise has been overwhelmingly cost-driven, reflecting not just higher tariffs but also the elevated expense associated with switching sources and the genuine lack of product from historically reliable suppliers. With Easy Peel a key item in US retail, these dynamics have reinforced both the product’s price sensitivity and the supply chain’s delicate balance.
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