The European Commission has said that EU beef prices “seem to stabilising”, but, despite signs of stability, they are well below the level they were for the same time period in 2025.

For the week ending 14 June 2026, the EU average price for carcases of adult male bovines was €6.41/kg. This was up 1.76% on previous week, but down 3.91% on the previous month and down 3.22% on the previous year.

“Prices continue at [a] high level, but have clearly declined in recent weeks. Although they seem to stabilising, prices are now below the level they were in 2025 in the same period. However, they remain well above the average for the last three years.

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“Demand has slowed down due to high prices and overall uncertainty about the economy. However, the short supply continues to sustain prices at high level and, for the time being, still favourable margins for producers,” the Commission said.

Beef kill

According to the latest statistics available, it said that in the period January to March 2026 production decreased by 3.4% in the number of cattle slaughtered, with significant declines in almost all member states, and by 1.2% in volume of tonnes, compared with the same period in 2025.

Despite the increase in carcase weights, the supply remains short, it said.

For the first two months of 2026, exports decreased by 14.6% in relation to the same period in 2025.

“The shortage of animals and the decline in the production continue to limit EU’s capacity to export,” the Commission said.

Some 37% of EU beef went to the UK remains the first destination. However, this was down 11% on the same period last year.

“Besides the EU shortage, a reduction of the UK demand for EU beef due to the trade agreements reached by the UK with other partners (eg Australia) cannot be excluded,” it said.