Sheep meat production in the EU falls, with exports and imports on the rise

While the main countries in the European Union (EU) are recording a year-on-year decline in sheep meat production, the reference price has remained stable, given that there has been an increase in imports as well as exports to and from the bloc, between the first 7 months of 2025. Fresh/frozen sheep meat imports to the EU from January to July amounted to 99,400 tons; and exports of the same type of meat by the EU totaled 16,400 tons, an increase of 7% (1,100 tons) compared to the same period of 2024. Prices have remained relatively stable in the last month, in September the reference value in the EU closed at 748 per kg, according to the latest report by Hannah McLoughlin, analyst at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) of England. PRODUCTION DECLINES. On production, McLoughlin wrote that in recent years there has been a decrease in the main producing countries, due to "structural decline with producers leaving the sector and disease challenges." Between ...