Spain's sheep and goat meat sector contracts in 2026 as consumption falls 13.3%
Spanish sheep slaughter fell 8% to 3,977,072 head between January and July 2026, with sheep meat output down 5.7% to 54,018 tonnes. Household purchases of fresh sheep and goat meat dropped 13.3% year on year, while lamb prices rose between 5.2% and 12.9%. Live sheep imports jumped 42.2% as live exports fell 21.8%.
Spain's sheep and goat meat sector is heading into the final quarter of 2026 with fewer animals slaughtered, less meat produced and a double-digit drop in household consumption, while farmgate prices remain high. The data comes from the latest quarterly report of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, reported by the Spanish agri-food outlet agroclm.com.
Slaughter and output decline
Between January and July, 3,977,072 sheep were slaughtered in Spain, 8% fewer than in the same period a year earlier. Sheep meat production fell 5.7% to 54,018 tonnes, confirming reduced processing activity over the first seven months of the year.
The goat segment was more stable. Slaughter reached 501,673 head, down 1%, and production came to 4,189 tonnes, a decline of 3%. Sheep continue to account for the bulk of combined output, at 54,018 tonnes against 4,189 tonnes of goat meat.
Lamb prices hold at high levels
Prices moved in the opposite direction to volumes. According to agroclm.com, all lamb categories were trading above year-earlier levels in week 35 of 2026, with annual gains ranging from 5.2% to 12.9%. The steepest increase was recorded for animals of 10 to 13 kilograms.
In the goat segment, fine kid of 7 to 9 kilograms was quoted at 7.49 euros per kilogram live weight, 7.2% above both the previous week and the previous month, but still 1.3% below the level of a year earlier.
Household demand contracts by double digits
The weakest indicator is domestic demand. Household purchases of fresh sheep and goat meat fell 13.3% year on year between January and June 2026, and over the most recent twelve months the decline stands at 10.5%. Fresh meat is the segment showing the weakest behaviour in the ministry's figures.
The report frames the combination of shrinking supply and faster-shrinking demand as one of the sector's main challenges, with the industry concerned about the continued loss of presence in the shopping basket.
Trade flows shift
Spanish exports of live sheep fell 21.8% between January and July, although Algeria and Portugal increased their purchases. Sheep meat exports declined more moderately, by 2.1%, with Algeria the leading destination and volumes up 17.4%, while sales to France dropped 27.2%.
Imports moved the other way: Spanish purchases of live sheep rose 42.2% over the same seven months, against a backdrop of lower domestic production.
Taken together, the figures describe fewer animals slaughtered, lower production, a sharp contraction in consumption and a market that is still holding high prices. Demand will be the key variable to watch for the sector over the coming months.
