Global Meat Prices Set a New Record in June, But Not Every Meat Followed

World meat prices climbed to a new record in June 2026. But the headline number hides a split market, where some meats got more expensive while others kept falling.

Meat Prices Hit a Record High

The FAO Meat Price Index averaged 131.0 points in June, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). That is up 0.5 points, or 0.4%, from May, and 5.0 points, or 4.0%, higher than a year earlier. It is a new all-time high for the index.

The rise was not spread evenly. Poultry did most of the heavy lifting, with support from sheep meat. At the same time, pork and beef prices moved the other way.

Here is how the four main meats performed in June:

Poultry: prices rose, mainly on stronger export prices from Brazil.
Sheep meat: prices firmed on steady demand and tight supply.
Pork: prices kept falling.
Beef: prices eased slightly.

Why Poultry and Sheep Meat Went Up

Poultry was the biggest driver of the record. Export prices in Brazil rose on strong global import demand. On top of that, supply inside Brazil was temporarily tighter, because producers had cut back after an earlier period of oversupply.

Sheep meat, which the FAO calls ovine meat, also gained ground. Demand stayed firm while the amount available for export remained limited. That combination pushed world prices higher.

Why Pork and Beef Fell

Pork moved in the opposite direction. The FAO points to two main reasons: plenty of supply in the European Union, and weak demand from several Asian markets. This is the same pressure that has weighed on European pig producers for months.

Beef prices slipped a little. Lower quotations came out of Australia, where more product is expected to reach export markets in the third quarter. Brazilian beef export prices stayed broadly stable, as China's import quotas neared their full limit and buying began to slow.

The Wider Food Price Picture

The record in meat came against a calmer background for food prices overall. The broader FAO Food Price Index averaged 130.3 points in June, down 0.3% from May. It sat only slightly above its level a year earlier, and still well below its March 2022 peak.

Gains in meat and vegetable oils were offset by falls in cereals, sugar and dairy. Dairy in particular stayed weak, with cheese prices dropping for an eleventh month in a row.

Boubaker Ben-Belhassen, Director of FAO's Markets and Trade division, said individual commodity markets are still reacting to different forces. He added that in an uncertain global environment, transparent markets, timely information and predictable trade remain key to food security.

What It Means for the Years Ahead

A longer view suggests demand growth may cool. The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2026-2035 projects that global meat consumption will reach about 412 million tonnes by 2035, up 12% from the base period.

Per capita consumption is expected to reach nearly 30 kg per person by 2035. That growth is less than half of what the world saw in the previous decade. In high-income regions, ageing populations, higher red meat prices and rising health, environmental and animal welfare concerns are all expected to hold demand back.

The outlook also shows which meats are set to grow fastest over the next decade:

Poultry: the largest gain, up 29 million tonnes (+20%).
Sheep meat: up 3 million tonnes (+20%).
Beef: up 6 million tonnes (+8%).
Pork: up 6 million tonnes (+4%).

What Buyers and Sellers Should Watch

For anyone trading meat, the June data is a reminder that a single price index can mask very different stories. Poultry and sheep meat sellers are working in a firm market, while pork and beef buyers may find more room to negotiate.

Key points to keep an eye on in the coming months:

Brazil's poultry export prices and how strong global demand stays.
European pork supply and any shift in Asian buying.
Australia's rising beef exports in the third quarter.
How close China gets to filling its beef import quotas.