EU beef supply contracts while the price level remains high

The European Commission’s latest market situation report points to a contraction in EU beef and veal production. In January to May 2026, bovine slaughter numbers were down 4.6% on the same period of 2025; measured in tonnes, production fell by 2.7%. The number of animals declined more sharply than volume, a difference that points to changing carcass weights and category structures rather than a uniform movement across all segments.