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Poultry
Egg hatchability is still a problem for the industry as a whole, and supply shortages, particularly for wings and tenders, persist. There is a great demand for breasts of all sizes and no extra supply. Wings and tenders are still the most difficult to locate offerings. The demand for dark meat is still high. Most whole birds are even.
Beef
Packers keep mentioning cutting back on harvest, while buyers “pump the brakes” and try to make sense of the direction of the market. As the week goes on, tenders, strips, and ribs are leveled. Strips and top butts are still the market’s shining stars and are reliable performers. Chucks, insides, and end cuts are all flat. Demand for grinds keeps getting better.
Pork
Next week, B/I in butts will increase, but boneless butts will slightly decline. As grilling season draws near, spareribs are becoming more popular. With the inclusion of retail advertisements and robust exports, loins are also increasing. Next week, bellies will be rising, and the market will continue to be unstable.
The Sea
Seafood
North Atlantic lobster tail production is increasing, while prices are falling. Markets are stable week after week. The seafood industry is preparing for major vacations in the coming summer, and operators are revising summer menus.
Produce
Adverse weather conditions in Florida, Mexico, and California have had a notable effect on different produce, leading to reduced harvests and ultimately causing an increase in market prices. The recent rainfall during March has impacted the supply levels, leading to high market activity. Despite expanding into new acreage that is not fully operational yet, we anticipate ongoing supply shortages in the weeks ahead. Additionally, the Salinas Valley is still facing below-average temperatures. Reaching into these fields will likely cause supply issues towards the end of the season. We will continue to see some increases in mildew and anthracnose, which will continue to hold back yields and weights.
Kitchen Sink
Dairy
Markets for shell eggs are all flat. Block and barrel sales are steadily rising. Butter is still up. The EU market remains stable, with milk production underperforming and cheese absorbing more of the milk.The retail and food service sectors consistently seek butter from domestic producers. But there’s more demand for tons of unsalted butter.
Grain
Soybean oil futures were turbulent last week, but they finished slightly over 1% higher. Pressure from palm oil helped bring the market higher, while potential taxes on used cooking oil could increase demand for soybean oil. Canola oil moved alongside soy. Palm was higher. Supply has increased, but demand has decreased.
