Prices for cattle and beef continue to rise

The high and further rising purchase prices for cattle are apparently passed on reasonably well to parties further down the chain. Parties in the meat trade note that thinner cows in particular are a good match for meat types that are now in high demand. Chips, in particular, suitable for minced meat are being sold much more expensive this week. For the more luxurious parts of beef-rich cows, it is somewhat more difficult to pass on the increases in purchasing in the chain.

Very fast demand for slaughter cattle
The demand for slaughter cattle is described as very lively. Surcharges are paid left and right to get supply on the hook. A situation that has not occurred for a long time. The prices of less luxurious animals are rising even faster than those of luxury cattle. Sausage cows (2nd quality) have become 38 cents more expensive on the Bunnik cattle market since January, and slaughter bulls (E) have become 30 cents. 

For now, insiders see no reason to assume that much will change in the tight supply situation. After all, expanding a cattle herd takes a lot of time. According to insiders, buyers and consumers are currently paying the price of beef that has been 'too cheap' for years.

In addition to the tight supply situation here in the Netherlands, the supply of beef cattle in Germany is also very small. Here too, many livestock farmers have stopped because of years of prices that were too low, or so it sounds. In addition, import volumes from South America are disappointing at the moment. The prices for beef there are also high and the costs for logistics are skyrocketing. There have also been regular congestions in the logistics chain, as a result of which supply did not always arrive in the Netherlands at the desired time.

Slaughter numbers remain low
The tight supply situation is still well reflected in the low Dutch slaughter figures. In recent weeks, the supply has even fallen below the level of 2021, when the number of slaughters was already quite low.

For the time being, the situation on the beef market does not appear to be changing much. A tight supply forces buyers to pay higher prices. The question is how long consumers can and will continue to pay rising prices.