Australian Red Meat Exports Adjust to Middle East Disruption

Australian red meat exporters are continuing to supply Middle Eastern markets despite disruption to freight, fuel and logistics linked to regional instability.

Meat & Livestock Australia said key Middle Eastern markets remain open to Australian red meat, with no formal border closures or trade bans in place. The main challenge is operational disruption rather than a collapse in demand.

Across Gulf Cooperation Council markets, exports are still moving, but reduced flight availability, shipping disruption and higher freight, insurance and energy costs are affecting shipment decisions. MLA said red meat exports into the region fell sharply in March, with volumes around 50% lower than February, before partially recovering in April.

The Gulf markets most affected include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Bahrain, which are more exposed to regional transport chokepoints. Markets outside the Gulf, including Egypt, Türkiye, Lebanon and Mauritius, have been less affected, although they account for smaller volumes.

Retail demand for red meat has remained resilient, particularly as more consumers eat at home. However, premium chilled beef and lamb availability has become more variable, while foodservice demand has been more mixed due to reduced tourism, travel warnings and lower dining out activity in some markets.

MLA said Australia’s diversified export base is helping the industry manage the disruption. With markets across Asia, North America, the UK and the Middle East, exporters are not reliant on one destination and can adjust volumes, product formats and logistics strategies as conditions change.

For the wider meat trade, the situation highlights the growing importance of supply chain flexibility, frozen product options and strong customer relationships during periods of global disruption.

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Source: Meat & Livestock Australia | 7 May 2026

Beef and Lamb Roasting Joints Drive April Meat Inflation, Says AIMS

Meat and poultry prices rose by 4.06% in the 12 months to April 2026, according to the latest inflation report from the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers.

The annual figure is lower than the 7.95% recorded in the 12 months to March, but prices still moved upwards on a monthly basis, rising by 0.65% during April.

AIMS said beef and lamb were the main drivers of the monthly increase, with beef prices rising by 1.16% and lamb by 1.04% compared with March. These rises were partly balanced by falls in pork and chicken, which were down by 1.39% and 0.22% respectively.

Of the 30 meat and poultry lines tracked in the report, seven fell in price, seven remained unchanged and 16 increased. AIMS said beef roasting joints, up 9.57%, and lamb roasting joints, up 11.45%, were the standout increases.

Year on year, the overall meat and poultry inflation figure of 4.06% remains ahead of the 3.4% figure for food and non alcoholic beverages reported by the Office for National Statistics.

AIMS said annual price increases for beef and lamb continue to be the main contributors to meat inflation, while some chicken and pork cuts are still offering better value for shoppers at the chilled fixture. Chicken breast portions and thigh fillets have fallen year on year, while pork loin steaks, chops and mince are also giving consumers lower cost options.

Looking ahead, AIMS warned that rising costs across packaging, plastics, fuel, labour and farm inputs such as feed and fertiliser could continue to put upward pressure on meat and poultry prices in the coming months.

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Source: AIMS | 4 May 2026

Lab Grown Foie Gras and Chicken Undergo UK Safety Review

Cultivated versions of foie gras and chicken are undergoing safety assessment in the UK as regulators examine potential future approval of lab grown meat products.

According to reporting by AOL, the products are currently being reviewed by the Food Standards Agency as part of the UK’s regulatory process for novel foods.

The products are produced using cell cultivation techniques and in some cases 3D food printing technology to replicate the texture and structure of conventional meat.

Supporters of cultivated meat say the technology could offer environmental benefits and reduce reliance on livestock production. However, regulatory approval is required before the products can be sold commercially in the UK.

The safety assessment process will examine nutritional content, production methods and potential risks before any decision is made on market authorisation.

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Source: AOL | 13 March 2026

Britain’s meat inflation eases in January, but Ramadan set to push Halal lamb prices higher

Britain’s meat inflation slowed sharply in January, according to the latest AIMS Meat Inflation Report, although upward pressure is expected to return as Ramadan approaches.

The January 2026 report shows that average meat prices rose by just 0.32% (£0.04 per kg) during the month. However, year-on-year inflation remains elevated, with average prices up 12.58% (£1.38 per kg) compared with January 2025.

Monthly trends across beef, lamb, pork and chicken

During January, all four major categories — beef, lamb, pork and chicken — saw some individual cuts remain flat or fall slightly in price. Overall movements, however, varied by species.

Beef prices increased by 0.75% month on month, driven largely by a £1.18 per kg rise in roasting joints. Lamb prices also edged higher, rising 1.58%, with leg joints up £2.11 per kg. Both cuts were heavily promoted by retailers during December, and January pricing suggests supermarkets sought to recover margin following the festive period.

By contrast, pork prices fell slightly, down 0.14%, while chicken prices dropped more sharply by 5.68%. Together, these declines offset beef and lamb increases, keeping overall meat inflation modest for the month.

Annual inflation still driven by beef and lamb

Looking at the 12-month period from 1 February 2025 to 31 January 2026, all four categories recorded inflation, although the scale varied significantly.

Chicken showed the lowest annual increase at just 0.22%, with several cuts — including bone-in and filleted thighs — cheaper than a year earlier. This has been influenced by retailer price-matching and rollback promotions, particularly from Aldi and Asda.

Pork prices rose 1.27% year on year, led by roasting cuts. Leg increased by 10.87%, while shoulder rose 10.51%. Despite this, AIMS notes that pork continues to offer strong consumer value, aligning with AHDB’s current “British Pork, But Not As You Know It” campaign.

However, it is beef and lamb that continue to drive overall inflation. Lamb prices are up 4.46% year on year, while beef has surged by 29.9%, reflecting tight supply and strong demand.

Ramadan expected to lift Halal lamb prices

Looking ahead, AIMS expects further upward pressure on prices during February and March. With Valentine’s Day approaching, beef and lamb steaks are likely to rise. In addition, Ramadan (17 February to 18 March) is expected to significantly increase demand for Halal lamb and Halal chicken.

Weekly lamb throughput is already down by 2,387 head (1.22%), suggesting farmers may be holding stock back in anticipation of stronger Ramadan-driven liveweight prices.

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Source: Aims | 5 February 2026

Meatex Launches Zero Commission Marketplace for the Food Trade

Trade only platform removes fees and commissions, giving suppliers full control and higher margins. This zero commission food marketplace empowers businesses to keep more of their profits while accessing a wider customer base.

Meatex, the UK’s leading B2B food trading platform, has today announced the launch of its new zero commission marketplace model, allowing food suppliers to list products for free, deal directly with buyers, and keep 100% of their profits.

The move removes traditional marketplace fees and commissions that often erode supplier margins, offering a simpler, fairer and more transparent way for wholesale food businesses to trade online.

Under the new model:

• Suppliers list products for free
• Buyers browse and connect for free
• No commission is charged on any deal
• Suppliers deal directly with buyers

The platform supports trading across meat, poultry, seafood, frozen, chilled and surplus food products, connecting verified trade buyers and sellers across the UK and internationally.

Tony Vardy, Founder of Meatex, commented: “The food trade is built on relationships, trust and speed. Traditional marketplaces often add friction, fees and complexity. We wanted to strip all of that away. Zero commission means suppliers keep their margin, buyers get sharper pricing, and deals happen faster. It’s how trading should work.”

Meatex has grown rapidly as a professional trade only platform, attracting wholesalers, manufacturers, processors, caterers and distributors seeking a clean, commission free route to market without consumer noise, hidden costs or platform interference.

The launch also reflects Meatex’s wider ambition to become the UK’s leading digital trading hub for wholesale food, combining marketplace trading with classified ads, recruitment, trade news and finance solutions.

“We’re not trying to replace relationships,” Vardy added. “We’re simply giving the trade better digital tools to trade smarter, faster and more profitably.”

Suppliers can register, list products and start selling immediately at www.meatex.co.uk

EU Beef Output Set to Fall Sharply by 2035

EU red meat production is forecast to decline significantly over the next decade, according to new outlook data published by AHDB.

The European Commission projects a 9.2% fall in EU beef production by 2035, equivalent to a reduction of around 615,000 tonnes. The decline is being driven primarily by a shrinking cow herd, with suckler cow numbers expected to drop by 8.5%.

The figures underline a long-term structural contraction in European beef supply rather than a short-term cyclical adjustment.

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Source: AHDB |  08/01/2026

Irish Cattle Prices Under Pressure as Factories Adopt Tough Stance

Irish cattle prices have come under renewed pressure at the start of 2026. Meat processors are reported to be taking a “take it or leave it” approach to procurement, despite reduced slaughter numbers.

According to the Irish Examiner, factories have hardened their stance on base prices for steers and heifers in the first trading week of the year. This resulted in a softening of returns for finishers. This shift has surprised some producers given the continued tightness in cattle availability.

Official figures show that the kill in week one of 2026 was almost 8,000 head lower than the same period in 2025. This underlines the ongoing contraction in Irish cattle supplies. Despite this, processors appear confident in holding firm on prices. They cite weak demand signals and challenging market conditions at the opening of the year.

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Source article: Irish Examiner | 6 January 2026