Agricultural News
Beef Cutout Prices Slide Lower- Ed Czerwein Explains
Mon, 04 Apr 2016 21:28:02 CDT
On a regular basis, Ed Czerwein of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Market News Office in Amarillo, Texas offers a review of the previous week's boxed beef trade. Here is his report of weekly boxed beef trade for the week ending April 2nd.
The daily spot Choice box beef cutout ended the week last Friday at $219.11 which was $5.25 lower compared to the previous Friday but about 15 dollars lower in the last 12 working days. There were 728 loads sold for the week in the daily box beef cutout. Last year at this time we were around $255 then climbed to $265 right before Memorial day but had a couple of minor setbacks during the spring rally.
The Comprehensive or weekly average Choice cutout which includes all types of sales including the daily spot cutout was $220.16 which was only $4.33 lower. There were 6316 total loads sold which was only 14 loads lower than the previous week. The formula sales were at 3144 loads which was 35 loads higher than last week and it was about 50 percent of the total loads sold this week.
Exports as reported on the Boxed Beef report represent primarily muscle cuts and were 738 loads which was 272 lds lower. 155 loads were sold to our NAFTA Neighbors and 583 loads were shipped overseas.
The out-front sales which won't be delivered for at least 22 days and were 1139 loads which was 202 loads lower than last week. The largest outfront sales were brisket again this week with 2.4 million pounds that were $15-$27 below formula average prices.
Taking a look at the weekly avg primal cut prices, we find the Choice chuck and the round primal were $4-$5 lower. The Choice middle meats were mixed- the rib was $19 lower this week and the loin was $4 higher. Ribs normally do not collapse this time of the year but usually enjoy a seasonal rally. Fifty percent trimmings,which are the single largest cut from the cutout, jumped $56 the first two weeks in March but lost $29 the past two weeks.
The daily Cow Cutout and 90 percent trimmings were about steady compared to the previous Friday. The cow cutout was $173.54 and those ninety percent trimmings ended the week at $217.63 on Friday.
The latest report of Imported meat passed for entry into the US for week ending March 26 showed that week we passed for import 19,937 metric tons of fresh beef which was about 300 metric tons higher than the previous week and 1600 tons below last year. The Year to date Total Tonnage was 11% below last year. Australia was down 25 % and New Zealand was down 11 % compared to last year but Canada was up 7 % and Mexico was up 16%.
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear Ed Czerwein with his weekly commentary.
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