EU sheep meat production totalled 398,000 tonnes in 2023
Production in Spain and France fell by 13,000 and 6,500 tonnes, respectively, to 106,000 and 73,000 tonnes for 2023. Countries such as Greece, Italy and Portugal also experienced large declines on the year. The European sheep flock is witnessing structural decline following drought across many Mediterranean countries, with overall lower forage availability and risks of disease. The European Commission estimates that production of sheep meat in the EU will fall by a further 1% in 2024.
EU sheep meat prices have similarly benefited from overall tighter supply across the continent. The EU reference price has grown from the beginning of the year, to average 663.6p/kg for the first 7 weeks of the year. Demand for sheep meat in the EU benefits from increased consumption associated with religious festivals such as Eid and Easter. Therefore, consumption is expected to remain stable for 2024 and perhaps even rally slightly, despite the cost-of-living pressures.
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