Find out more about factors that can affect pricing in our sector. B+LNZ monitors activity and trends to help our sector forecast future price activity, mitigate risk and identify opportunities.
New export markets update
B+LNZ has developed a new levy-funded publication to offer farmers an independent view of how key beef and lamb export markets are performing. The first Quarterly Markets Update covers Quarter 3 (April-June), 2025-2026 season.
B+LNZ is committed to helping sheep and beef farmers thrive, now and into the future. This means not only supporting on-farm performance but also helping farmers understand what's happening in the global markets they supply and how that flows back to behind the farmgate.
This report – the first in a series of regular quarterly market updates – provides timely insights into our global markets and the key drivers shaping New Zealand's red meat sector, including global demand, supply, trade policy, exchange rates and competitor activity. It also highlights emerging trends, opportunities and risks that may influence the sector over time.
New Zealand farm input price trends
International soft commodity indicators
We also monitor the annual and monthly global price trends of a selection of soft commodities to forecast future price activity, mitigate risk and identify opportunities.
Soft commodity indicators include:
- Animal proteins – beef and lamb compared with chicken and pork.
- Materials – wool compared with cotton.
- Grains – soy, wheat and corn as crops for both human and animal feed.
- Farm inputs – phosphate, urea and crude oil as key inputs in fertiliser and fuel use.