Sheep and goat meat market in France

Earlier Report Observations

The volume of the French sheep and goat meat market peaked in 2019 at 174 thousand tons before declining to 164 thousand tons in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted out-of-home dining, a key channel for lamb consumption. After a partial recovery in 2022 supported by the return of customers to restaurants, consumption edged down again in 2023 due to inflationary pressures reducing household purchasing power.

Domestic production fell steadily from 95 thousand tons in 2018 to 83 thousand tons in 2023, pressured by a shrinking sheep flock and the 2022 summer drought that reduced lamb availability. To offset lower local output, imports rose, reaching 115 thousand tons in 2022. Despite the volume contraction, market value in U.S. dollars grew until 2021, then moderated, as record lamb prices driven by tight supply and high feed costs partially compensated for the lower tonnage.

Production sheep and goat meat in France

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of sheep and goat meat, 2017-2020

World map of production of sheep and goat meat, 2017-2020

In 2020, France produced 93.1 K t of sheep and goat meat, representing a 3.1% decrease compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production declined by 4.5%, with an annualized rate of 1.5%. The highest growth was observed in 2019 at 0.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in France in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

France's sheep and goat meat production value rose for the second year in a row. In 2020, output reached 707.9 M $ US, up 3.7% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 10.2%, averaging 3.3% per year. The lowest value occurred in 2018 at 599.2 M $ US, while the steepest drop was that year at 6.7%. The strongest increase was in 2019 at 13.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in France in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports sheep and goat meat from France

Exports in kind, t

Sheep and goat meat exports from France fell for the second consecutive year. In 2020, export volume totaled 9 040 t, down 15.8% from the previous year. Over 2017-2020, exports dropped by 20.4%, with an annualized decline of 7.3%. The peak was in 2018 at 13 053 t. The sharpest decrease was in 2019 at 17.8%, while the largest rise was in 2018 at 14.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from France in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Italy (35.3% of exports in volume), Portugal (15.7%), and Belgium (10.9%) together accounted for 61.9% of France's total sheep and goat meat exports by volume, positioning them as the primary destinations.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from France in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

France's sheep and goat meat export value declined for the second year running. In 2020, exports amounted to 68.8 M $ US, a modest 9.8% decrease from the prior year. Over 2017-2020, exports fell by 8.2%, with an annualized rate of 2.8%. The highest value was in 2018 at 82.2 M $ US, and the largest increase that year was 9.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from France in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During 2017-2020, Italy (26.5% of exports by value), Belgium (17.6%), and Portugal (14.8%) led as the top buyers of French sheep and goat meat, collectively making up 58.9% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from France in value, 2017-2020

Imports sheep and goat meat to France

Imports in kind, t

France imported 80 577 t of sheep and goat meat in 2020, a modest 9.3% decline from 2019. Over 2017-2020, imports decreased by 9.7%, with an annualized rate of 3.4%. The highest growth was in 2019 at 6.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to France in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom (42.8% of imports by volume), Ireland (20.1%), and New Zealand (14.9%) formed the core group of suppliers for France's sheep and goat meat imports, together representing 77.7% of total volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to France in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, France's imports of sheep and goat meat were valued at 567.9 M $ US, a measured 7.0% increase over the previous year. Over 2017-2020, imports grew by 5.5%, with an annualized rate of 1.8%. The lowest value was in 2019 at 530.8 M $ US, while the highest was in 2018 at 574.4 M $ US. The steepest drop occurred in 2019 at 7.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to France in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During 2017-2020, the United Kingdom (40.7% of imports by value), Ireland (20.1%), and New Zealand (18.4%) remained the key suppliers of sheep and goat meat to France, jointly accounting for 79.2% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to France in value, 2017-2020