EU Meat Prices Stay High in April 2026 as Lamb Markets Surge Further

Introduction

EU meat prices remained elevated in April 2026, confirming that the strong pricing environment seen throughout 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 is continuing into spring. Compared with January, February, and March, most beef and lamb categories stayed close to record highs, while pigmeat prices continued their gradual recovery after a more stable start to the year.

The April figures suggest that supply shortages across the cattle and sheep sectors are still limiting downward price movement. Beef markets showed signs of mild correction in some categories, but overall prices remain historically high. Lamb prices moved even higher again during April, reaching the strongest levels recorded so far in 2026. Pigmeat markets continued to strengthen steadily rather than sharply, while chicken prices remained comparatively stable and affordable.

Large differences between Member States also remain a defining feature of EU meat markets, reflecting differences in production systems, feed costs, local demand, and market structure.

Key Market Movements Compared with Previous Months

• Chicken: Stable

• Beef: Slightly down / stabilising

• Lamb: Up

• Pigmeat: Up gradually

• Piglets: Up

EU beef prices

EU pigmeat prices

EU poultry and lamb prices

Key Takeaways at a Glance

• Beef prices remained historically high, although several categories showed slight corrections compared with March.

• Lamb prices strengthened again and became the clearest inflation driver within EU meat markets.

• Pigmeat prices continued rising gradually rather than sharply, suggesting improving but more balanced market conditions.

• Chicken prices remained stable and significantly cheaper than red meat categories.

• Sweden remained among the highest-priced countries across multiple beef and pigmeat categories.

• Large price gaps between Member States continue to reflect structural differences in production costs and domestic demand.

Chicken

EU average: €2.92/kg

Lowest price: Poland (€1.88/kg)

Highest price: Germany (€4.61/kg)

Chicken prices stayed broadly stable compared with March (€2.94/kg). Poultry continues to benefit from consumers shifting toward cheaper protein options as beef and lamb prices remain elevated.

Germany again recorded the highest prices, while Poland maintained one of the lowest-cost poultry production systems in the EU.

Beef Markets

Cows

EU average: €6.12/kg

Lowest price: Greece (€4.29/kg)

Highest price: Sweden (€7.73/kg)

Cow prices eased slightly from March (€6.20/kg), marking one of the few categories where prices softened during April. Even so, prices remain far above early-2025 levels due to ongoing supply shortages.

Heifers

EU average: €7.19/kg

Lowest price: Bulgaria (€4.27/kg)

Highest price: Sweden (€8.14/kg)

Heifer prices stayed extremely high despite a small decline from March (€7.33/kg). Sweden replaced Italy as the highest-priced market in April.

The category continues to reflect tight breeding herd conditions and lower slaughter availability across Europe.

Male Bovines

EU average: €7.01/kg

Lowest price: Latvia (€5.55/kg)

Highest price: Sweden (€8.29/kg)

Male bovine prices declined slightly from March (€7.18/kg), suggesting mild stabilisation after the sharp increases seen during 2025.

Despite the correction, the EU average remains above €7/kg, showing that overall beef supply remains tight.

Steers

EU average: €6.85/kg

Lowest price: Romania (€5.36/kg)

Highest price: Sweden (€8.32/kg)

Steer prices softened more noticeably in April compared with March (€7.07/kg). This was one of the clearest month-to-month declines within beef categories.

However, premium beef markets such as Sweden continued to post exceptionally high prices.

Young Bovines

EU average: €7.15/kg

Lowest price: Latvia (€5.30/kg)

Highest price: Sweden (€8.26/kg)

Young bovine prices stayed near historically high levels despite easing slightly from March (€7.26/kg).

The category still reflects limited availability of younger slaughter animals across the EU market.

Young Bulls

EU average: €7.05/kg

Lowest price: Latvia (€5.55/kg)

Highest price: Sweden (€8.29/kg)

Young bull prices followed the same pattern as male bovines and steers, easing modestly from March (€7.28/kg) but remaining elevated overall.

The data suggest that beef markets may be stabilising rather than continuing their aggressive upward climb.

Lamb Markets

Lamb – Heavy

EU average: €10.30/kg

Lowest price: Finland (€5.96/kg)

Highest price: Croatia (€13.51/kg)

Heavy lamb prices increased sharply again in April, rising above €10/kg for the EU average and reaching the highest level recorded so far in 2026.

Limited sheep numbers and strong seasonal demand continue to support exceptionally high prices across Southern and Eastern Europe.

Lamb – Light

EU average: €10.53/kg

Lowest price: Latvia (€6.47/kg)

Highest price: Croatia (€13.83/kg)

Light lamb prices rose even further than heavy lamb prices and became the most expensive mainstream meat category in the EU market.

Compared with March (€9.83/kg), April showed another significant increase, confirming ongoing tightness in sheep supply.

Pigmeat Markets

Piglets

EU average: €0.63/kg

Lowest price: France (€0.45/kg)

Highest price: Sweden (€1.02/kg)

Piglet prices continued their gradual month-by-month increase, moving from €0.49/kg in February to €0.61/kg in March and €0.63/kg in April.

This steady rise suggests improving confidence within pig production markets rather than short-term volatility.

Pigmeat – Class E

EU average: €1.68/kg

Lowest price: Netherlands (€1.29/kg)

Highest price: Sweden (€2.50/kg)

Class E pigmeat prices continued rising gradually from March (€1.63/kg). Northern European countries again showed the highest prices, while the Netherlands remained one of the cheapest large-scale suppliers.

Pigmeat – Class R

EU average: €1.95/kg

Lowest price: Czech Republic (€1.40/kg)

Highest price: Italy (€2.03/kg)

Class R prices recovered fully back to January levels after the softer February and March readings.

Italy again recorded the highest prices due to strong domestic demand for processed pork products.

Pigmeat – Class S

EU average: €1.70/kg

Lowest price: Netherlands (€1.30/kg)

Highest price: Sweden (€2.56/kg)

Class S pigmeat prices strengthened steadily again in April. Compared with January (€1.49/kg), the category has now increased meaningfully over four months, although the rise remains gradual rather than explosive.

Market Direction Compared with Earlier 2026

April 2026 confirms that EU meat markets are entering a more mature phase of the price cycle:

• Beef prices appear to be stabilising at very high levels rather than continuing rapid monthly increases.

• Lamb markets remain the tightest segment and continue to push higher.

• Pigmeat markets are strengthening steadily month by month instead of showing extreme volatility.

• Poultry remains the most stable and affordable protein source across Europe.

The overall market picture still reflects structural supply limitations rather than temporary disruptions. Herd reductions, high production costs, and constrained slaughter availability continue to support elevated meat prices throughout the EU.

Conclusion

The April 2026 data show that EU meat markets remain under strong supply pressure despite some signs of stabilisation in beef. Lamb prices continued climbing aggressively, pigmeat markets strengthened steadily, and poultry stayed comparatively affordable.

Compared with January, February, and March, the broader direction of the market has not fundamentally changed: supply remains tight, price gaps between countries remain large, and most meat categories continue trading near historically high levels.

Unless livestock numbers recover significantly later in 2026, elevated meat prices are likely to remain a defining feature of European food markets throughout the year.

Source: https://agridata.ec.europa.eu/extensions/DashboardPrice/DashboardMarketPrices.html