UK beef prices rise as cattle supply tightens - AHDB
Retail demand dips while imports rise to fill shortfall
21 August 2025
2 minute read
By: UK beef prices have climbed sharply from farm to retail shelf since 2020, driven by tight cattle supplies and rising production costs, according to a new market update from AHDB.
Farmgate prices for prime cattle peaked in May and eased slightly in June, but retail prices continued to rise, narrowing the gap between the two. R4L steer prices rose 11% in the first half of 2025 and are 35% higher than the same time last year.
Tight domestic supply is a key factor. UK beef production is forecast to drop 4% in 2025, with prime slaughter down 3% and cow throughput down 5% so far this year. Calf registrations remain low and herd sizes are shrinking in other beef-exporting countries as well, putting upward pressure on global prices.
Retail prices for beef are up 52% since 2020, with recent data showing a consumer shift away from beef towards cheaper proteins like chicken. Beef sales have dropped 4% in the past three months.
On the trade front, UK beef imports rose 10% from March to May as processors turned to international markets to offset domestic shortfalls. Imports from Brazil, Australia and New Zealand gained share, while Ireland’s portion slipped.
At the same time, exports fell 9% from January to May as UK beef became more expensive in euro terms, limiting competitiveness in the EU.
AHDB expects overall beef volumes in the UK to decline by about 2% this year, with prices likely to remain firm through the end of 2025.
