German Supermarkets Slash Butter Prices Amid Beef Surge
German supermarkets have slashed butter prices, with Lidl leading the way, followed by other major chains. This move comes as butter demand surges following the price reduction. Meanwhile, beef prices continue to soar due to dwindling cattle numbers and tight supply.
The Friedrich-Loeffler Institute recently reported 17,854 bluetongue infections from May 2024 to April 2025, but the peak has now passed. This disease, which affects cattle and other livestock, temporarily drove up beef and dairy prices in 2023 and 2024. However, vaccination efforts and natural spread have reduced the number of susceptible animals this year.
Beef prices in Germany have reached record highs, with slaughter prices for young bull beef exceeding 7 euros per kilogram, a staggering 50 percent increase since summer 2023. This surge is primarily due to a continuous decrease in cattle numbers, exacerbated by farm closures and lack of successors. Despite falling demand, beef prices remain high due to tight supply. In contrast, butter prices have fluctuated significantly in recent years, with a peak of 2.39 euros per packet in October 2024 and a fall to current prices. Supermarket chains and discounters have now reduced the price of a 250-gram packet of German branded butter to 1.49 euros, a decrease of 30 cents.
While beef prices continue to climb due to dwindling cattle numbers and tight supply, supermarket chains have cut butter prices, sparking increased demand. Despite the bluetongue disease's impact on cattle and livestock, vaccination efforts and natural spread have helped mitigate its effects on prices.
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