According to the Flemish Agriculture Agency, beef at the butcher could become up to 15% more expensive.
An AS2 carcass of young bull – the market reference often found in supermarkets – cost nearly €7.9 per kilo this week, the highest price in years. Comparatively, in the first week of January, the price was €6.68.
Eurostat noted that meat prices in the EU rose by 3.3% on average between 2023 and 2024.
There is currently a shortage of beef in Europe due to rampant diseases such as blue tongue and foot-and-mouth disease.
Additionally, there are fewer cattle farmers in Belgium. The sector faces further issues such as profitability, weather and climate related disruptions, and a lack of young people entering the sector.
Consumers will feel the impact of these rising prices.
