Meat sales suffer from listless demand

Waiting for grilling weather

The comparatively cool weather at the end of June led to a significant drop in demand for all types of meat on the meat wholesale markets in Germany. In particular, sales of barbecue items have stalled. However, the prices for beef and pork were able to hold up quite well, while demands for veal and lamb fell noticeably in some cases.

The stable price development for beef and pork at the shop level is not least the result of a limited supply. This should also ensure a relatively balanced market situation in the coming summer weeks.

For consumers, this sometimes means higher spending than last summer. Stewed beef, for example, is no longer offered as cheaply as it was last year. The average price per kilo in shops rose to EUR 8,80 in June, which is 23 cents more than in 2003. Minced beef, on the other hand, is available at the same conditions as last year and cost an average of EUR 5,87 per kilo in June. There is also boiled beef at just under five euros per kilo at last year's price.

Popular cuts of pork have only increased slightly in price. Pork chops, for example, cost an average of EUR 5,63 per kilogram in June, which was six cents more than in June 2003. Consumers had to pay an average of EUR 7,19 per kilogram for pork schnitzel at the shop level, five cents more than last summer. Veal is likely to become slightly cheaper in July due to weak demand, but the price gap compared to the previous year is likely to remain. Most recently, consumers had to pay 17,68 euros for a kilogram of fresh veal escalope, compared to just 16,89 euros a year ago.

Source: Bonn [ZmP]