In 2025, the meat market in the European Union entered a phase of adjustment between rising processing costs and consumers’ price acceptance thresholds. Eurostat data show that prices for meat products increased moderately compared with 2024, but at a slower pace than the growth of industrial costs.

From an economic standpoint, processors are facing a structural bottleneck: energy, labor, and sanitary-veterinary compliance costs are rising faster than the final price. Under these conditions, margins are being compressed not because of weak demand, but because of price rigidity at the retail level.

From a legislative perspective, consumer protection policies and competition rules limit the full transfer of costs to the final price. Looking ahead to 2026, the meat industry must rethink its cost structure and product portfolio, shifting toward segments with higher added value and greater operational efficiency.

(Photo: AI GENERATED)