EU beef market
Beef production in the EU-28 continues to decline after two temporary years of growth. The number of cows - and thus the number of calves - is no longer falling as sharply. Average slaughter weights are changing only slightly.
The EU Commission expects production and consumption to increase again in 2014. The increase in consumption is justified by moderate beef prices coupled with rising incomes due to the favorable economic development
On the consumption side, the downward trend is continuing. Per capita consumption averages 10.8 kg in the EU; in Germany it is around 2 kg higher.
The EU has once again become a net importer of beef. Imports of around 300,000 tons are offset by exports of 180,000 tons. Brazil supplies around 42 %, Uruquay 15 % and Argentina around 10 %. Exports to Russia and Turkey are tending towards zero. Import restrictions for sanitary reasons are said to play an important role.
The unusually high beef prices of € 4 per kg for the R3 bull at the beginning of 2013 had a strong negative impact on consumer sentiment. The subsequent fall in prices helped to revive consumption.
As the 28th member state of the EU, Croatia only holds 0.5% of the EU cattle herd and is a net importer of beef.
