Search our website enhanced by Google.
EU beef and lamb production: 2022 first half overview
Friday, 7 October 2022
With quarter two figures now available, we can see how EU beef and lamb production has fared during the first half of 2022.
Note: data for Greece for the month of June is still yet to be submitted, however we can look at overall trends.
Beef
Excluding Greece (which makes up approximately 0.5% of monthly EU beef production), total EU beef production for the first half of 2022 was 0.7% lower year-on-year, at 3.3 million tonnes.
Looking at the top producers in the bloc, beef production levels were mixed during the first half of 2022 compared to a year ago. Production in the two largest producers was lower, with Germany down 9% (-49,000 tonnes) and France down 4% (-31,000 tonnes). Output also declined in the Netherlands and Belgium, but to lesser extents.
Elsewhere, Spain (+7%), Ireland (+8%) and Italy (+5%) grew their production levels. Polish production remained largely flat year-on-year.
Sheep meat
Figures for sheep meat production in Greece are missing for June, only allowing for comparisons of production for the first five months of the year. Between Jan-May, total EU sheep meat production rose 1% year-on-year to approximately 182,000 tonnes. The main uplift was in Irish production, up 17% (+4,600 tonnes) year-on-year. The Irish breeding sheep flock has shown continued growth, according to the latest census results. Output also rose in Italy (+10%, +1,300 tonnes) and Spain (+1%, +500 tonnes).
Greece is one of the larger producers of sheep meat in the EU, typically making up 12% of monthly EU production. Data available for the first five months of the year showed that Greece’s production fell 6% (-1,600 tonnes) year-on-year. If this trend continued into June, this would translate to a lower rate of growth for the EU in total for the first half of the year. Production will have still increased year on year, although by only 0.5%.
Sign up for regular updates
You can subscribe to receive Beef and Lamb market news straight to your inbox. Simply fill in your contact details on our online form.
While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.
All intellectual property rights in the information and data on this webpage belong to or are licensed by AHDB. You are authorised to use such information for your internal business purposes only and you must not provide this information to any other third parties, including further publication of the information, or for commercial gain in any way whatsoever without the prior written permission of AHDB for each third party disclosure, publication or commercial arrangement. For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice or contact the Director of Corporate Affairs at info@ahdb.org.uk © Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. All rights reserved.