Meat market read, Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Ball-tip at 660¢/lb, up 34¢/lb on the week, is where the carcass split is most visible today. Lean trim is running nearly two and a half times the pace of middle meats in terms of cumulative gains, and that gap reflects a genuine supply condition: cow kill tight, imports filling some of the hole, but 81s and 92-94s printing firm because the domestic lean pipeline doesn't have slack. History on ball-tip actually points 14¢/lb lower over the next four weeks, so some of that weekly move may be borrowed time. Short loin at 918¢/lb and trimmed tenderloin at 1450¢/lb are both drifting or cratering, the loin end not finding a seasonal catalyst yet. Ground beef patties leading retail features at 21,000-plus stores keeps grinder demand a live conversation, but that retail support benefits the trim lane, not the loin. Packer margins deep in red territory means kill cuts are likely within two to four weeks, which compresses the lean supply picture further before any relief shows.

meatread.com