Markets: Summer lull heats meat sector

As predicted, fresh chicken prices have peaked and fallen back during the summer. At its height in mid-June, the Smithfield price of fresh whole chicken briefly touched 171 p/kg, but by the start of August had dropped back to 147 p/kg (note the chart below is a monthly average). Although the Brazilian imports into the EU remain curtailed, UK packers have now filled the gap in domestic supplies and, in the view of some traders, have overdone it and undermined the market. Adding further pressure