The latest sheep price dashboard published by Bord Bia shows a change in dynamics in terms of lamb prices across Europe.

French farmers have traditionally enjoyed the highest returns among the main sheep-producing nations in Europe, but, in recent years, prices have been lagging behind 2024 levels.

The most recent price for the week of 1 November 2025 shows the French lamb price averaging €8.81/kg, equating to a reduction of 98c/kg on 2024 levels, as detailed in Table 1.

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In contrast, the Spanish lamb price has maintained its recent price rise and at €9.78/kg is running almost €1/kg higher than the French price.

This is a big change, with French lamb traditionally commanding a €1/kg premium over Spanish lamb.

Supplies

Supplies of lamb are reported as tight across Spain, with the sheep sector still contending with the consequences of recent year’s droughts and a contraction in their breeding ewe flock, both in dairying and meat production.

Reports also indicate that sales of sheepmeat in France have dipped in 2025, with consumption said to feeling the effects of higher prices.

As Table 1 shows, prices in Britain are trending slightly ahead of 2024 returns, with the current average price of €7.54/kg running 16c/kg ahead of the corresponding week in 2024.

The Irish price of €7.39/kg is running 16c/kg lower than in 2024. This price does not include the 5% flat-rate VAT addition that farmers not registered for VAT receive on the sale of sheep.

Prices in Northern Ireland are also running 20c/kg behind 2024 levels. This has opened up a differential between of 63c/kg between Northern Ireland and British prices.

This is providing more opportunity for exporters to generate a margin from exporting sheep live to retain, with significant numbers starting to move again in the last couple of weeks.

Southern hemisphere

The average lamb price in Australia is also well ahead of 2024, with the average price of €6.11/kg running 96c/kg higher. Tight supplies and strong export demand are underpinning the upward momentum.

It is a similar case in New Zealand, with the sheep price of €5.48/kg running €1.10/kg above the corresponding week in 2024.

The sheep kill is predicted to fall by in excess of 10% for lambs in 2025 and by approximately 10% for adult sheep.