Pressure on European cattle market continues

The European beef market remains relatively stable, while the cattle market is clearly trending downward. However, there is one notable exception: in one country, meat prices are already coming under pressure.On average, European beef prices remain fairly stable. The price of O-quality cow beef is still hovering around the €620 mark. Meanwhile, meat from R-quality young bulls has come under some pressure, though not significantly. Prices have declined from their peak in week 5 of €740.01 per 100 kilos to €725.91.The situation in the meat market is not changing significantly. Up to week 12, beef prices in the European Union have remained largely stable. This is the result of a tight supply combined with subdued demand. However, prices are expected to decline after Easter, as demand will likely weaken further. For now, the market remains firm due to sales of higher-value cuts such as ribeye. This is largely driven by favorable weather conditions and preparations for the spring foodservice season.Irish pricing keeps fallingHowever, there is one market where prices are already relatively low. Irish prices are declining rapidly. Prices for R-grade steers are now 9% below the recent peak in week 45 of 2025, currently standing at €685.30. As a result, prices are 3.4% below the European average for that category. This is mainly due to weak export demand from the United Kingdom.The United Kingdom is increasingly sourcing cheaper beef from Brazil and Australia. This is an advantage UK buyers have over EU buyers, as the EU quota for Australian beef remains relatively restrictive. However, the new trade agreement with Australia is set to change this. If ratified, the beef quota will increase to 30,600 tonnes, up from the current 3,389 tonnes.Under normal circumstances, Ireland would redirect its beef exports to continental Europe. However, due to weak demand, Ireland is forced to price its beef significantly below that of its European competitors.Cattle prices are decliningLast week, the decline in beef prices was already visible at livestock markets, but the effects of the price reductions announced by slaughterhouses are now becoming apparent. As the Vee & Logistiek quotation lags by approximately two weeks, the impact of those earlier reductions is now visible. Prices for all cattle in the Vee & Logistiek listing have decreased by 10 cents. As a result, the price for first-quality cull cows now stands at €4.20 per kilo. O-quality has dropped to €5.93 per kilo, while U-quality has declined to €7.05.If the livestock market in Woerden is once again indicative of future developments, not only the reductions from two weeks ago but also those from the following week are taking effect. This time, dairy cattle prices have fallen by as much as 13 cents. This is due to—atypically for Europe—a relatively large supply of dairy cattle in the Netherlands. Beef cattle, however, remain scarce.A decline is also beginning to take hold in Germany. The VEZG is now reporting a decrease of 5 cents for O-quality cattle, bringing the price down to €5.85 per kilo. The drop in prices for beef cattle is even more pronounced. This trend contrasts with the situation in the Netherlands. R-quality prices have fallen by as much as 15 cents, reaching €6.85 per kilo.