Beef prices in the United Kingdom have risen sharply since 2020, driven by reduced cattle supply and rising production costs, said the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).
According to the survey, producer prices peaked in May, dropped slightly in June, but continued to rise at retail level. R4L cattle prices rose 11% in the first half of 2025 and are 35% higher than a year ago.
British beef production is expected to fall 4% in 2025, with a 3% reduction in slaughter of finished animals and a 5% drop in cow slaughter. Fewer calf registrations and shrinking herds in exporting countries are also putting pressure on international market prices.
Consumer prices have risen 52% since 2020. Recent data point to a shift in purchasing patterns, with beef being replaced by cheaper proteins such as chicken. Beef sales have fallen 4% in the past three months. Between March and May, UK imports rose 10%, with greater participation from Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand. Ireland’s share of supply decreased.
Over the same period, exports fell 9%, affected by the increase in UK beef prices in euros, which reduced competitiveness in the EU market.
AHDB estimates that the total beef volume available in the UK in 2025 will fall by about 2%. Prices are expected to remain high through the end of the year.
