Market prices: Prices soar as imports cut back

Wholesale fresh chicken prices at Smithfield have risen strongly over the past month and are now at their highest level for five years. The reason is primarily due to the large cut back in imports from Brazil into the EU due to disease issues. “This has created a shortfall in Europe which has almost stopped the export of meat products and whole chicken to the UK.” It could last for some time, but further price rises were unlikely due to increased UK output in response.