European beef price remains pretty weak

The European beef market remains weak, with traders reporting that demand has yet to pick up. One contributing factor is the spring weather in Europe. While it has been sunny, temperatures have remained relatively low, limiting consumption, particularly in the foodservice sector. There is, however, one notable exception. Irish prices have shown a slight increase following a period of significant declines.Northern European beef prices have declined significantly over the past few weeks. In the Netherlands, between week 12 and week 15, prices for O-grade dairy cows dropped by a notable 7.2%. This decline is the result of considerable price pressure on the Dutch cattle market, driven by higher slaughter rates. In addition, the substantial fall in Irish and Danish prices since February 2026 has added further pressure to the Northern European market. German prices have decreased by 1.8%. A notable exception is Poland, where prices have increased by 4.7% since week 12.Although prices appear to have stabilised in week 16, this is not actually the case. None of the countries have reported new data, and a quirk of Eurostat methodology means that, in such situations, prices from the previous week are simply carried forward.In Southern Europe, beef prices are now also starting to decline. Italian prices for R3 young bulls remain clearly higher than in other countries. In Spain, prices experienced a significant drop in week 14, falling by 4.7% in a single week. In week 15, the decline continued but at a slower pace. Meanwhile, French prices are also decreasing, albeit more gradually.How long will low demand dominate? Traders note that meat prices have eased slightly since Easter. In particular, front-quarter cuts have seen modest increases here and there, but overall prices are not really rising compared to the typical seasonal patterns for this time of year. The weather has generally been favourable, with plenty of sunshine. However, temperatures remain somewhat on the low side, which is limiting foodservice demand. Consumers are not spending as much time on terraces as they would in warmer conditions. Additionally, stakeholders in the meat sector report that consumers are cutting back on food spending to offset higher energy costs.Nevertheless, prices are expected to rise again in the coming weeks, especially for premium cuts such as steaks. This outlook is supported by improving weather conditions, which typically drive stronger foodservice performance and increased consumer demand as the barbecue season begins. Demand in Southern Europe is also expected to strengthen. In countries such as Italy, Spain, and France, spring is already a strong period for domestic consumption. This is followed by an even more robust phase as the tourist season begins. Not only does the number of consumers increase significantly, with many Northern Europeans travelling south, but these consumers also tend to treat themselves more often, for example by purchasing premium beef products.Irish prices stabilise Meanwhile, after a prolonged and significant decline, Irish beef prices have finally stabilised. Prices showed minimal movement, with Eurostat quoting €667.31 per 100 kg in week 14, rising just 9 cents to €667.40. This slight stabilisation is largely the result of prices having fallen well below the European average. Traders focused on the Irish market report that sales from the country remain relatively weak.Looking at more recent quotations published by the Irish Farmers Journal (Agriland), signs of a turnaround are emerging. With the exception of steers, all cattle categories recorded some price growth, while steer prices declined slightly. Most categories increased by just one to two cents, but young bulls and bulls saw more notable gains. Young bulls rose by 6.22 cents, while bulls increased by 58.45 cents, although this should largely be seen as a correction following a drop of nearly 68 cents the previous week.As a result of this stabilisation, the weekly kill rate increased by 905 head to 31,417 cattle. The year-on-year gap is also narrowing significantly. On 13 April, the Irish Ministry of Agriculture reported 31,417 cattle slaughtered, which is 7.3% lower than the same period last year. This marks an improvement compared to 6 April, when the count stood at 30,512 head, 14% below the 2025 level.