Agriland caught up with Dawn Meats group development manager Paul Nolan at the recent Newford Suckler Breeding Open Day to hear the beef market outlook from a factory perspective for the coming months.

From his perspective, he said that 2025 was "an exceptional year" for beef prices with prices and demand around the world very high and consumption "pretty good".

Despite this, Nolan said: "We've run into very different circumstances in 2026."

He noted that consumers are "under pressure", adding that the war in Iran and the implications at the petrol pump are being felt by consumers, which is materialising in "a little bit of stagnation currently" in beef markets.

However, on a more positive note for beef farmers, Nolan said: "What we are being told by Bord Bia is that our kill figures are expected to tighten somewhat over the next few months.

"I'm hopeful that if we get that, along with any kind of a pick-up in the market, depending of course on how affairs work out in the Middle East, we would certainly be hopeful we would be able to keep things where they are".

Volatility

Agriland asked Nolan if he expects beef price to remain steady for the forseeable future.

The Dawn Meats group development manager explained that a high level of volatility remains in most global markets as a result of geopolitical affairs.

He said: "You just have to look at your own household, let alone fellow consumers throughout Europe, that it's a very, very difficult time and it's hard to predict which way it will turn.

"Certainly at the moment, one is hopeful that if a combination of tight supplies and some bit of a pick-up in demand occurs, we should be okay.