Key Takeaways
- ▸The FAO Meat Price Index reached a record 131.0 points in June 2026.
- ▸The June print rose 0.4% on May and 4.0% year on year.
- ▸The index measures international meat prices against a 2014-2016 base of 100.
- ▸Poultry led the rise, lifted by firmer Brazilian export prices.
- ▸Pigmeat fell, weighed down by ample supply in the European Union.
MARKET PULSE · Nº 11
It is now official: global meat prices have never been higher. The FAO Meat Price Index reached an all-time high of 131.0 points in June, up 0.4% on May and 4.0% on a year earlier.
The index tracks a basket of international meat prices against a 2014-2016 base of 100. A print of 131.0 says the same simple thing our export data has been shouting all month: the world is short of protein, and it is paying up to get it.
Underneath the headline the picture splits by species. Poultry led the rise, lifted by firmer Brazilian export prices — the very strength visible in this month's record chicken data. Pigmeat fell, weighed down by ample supply in the European Union. One index, two very different stories.
Why poultry is doing the lifting
The June record leaned on firmer Brazilian poultry export prices, while pigmeat slipped on plentiful EU supply. The same Brazilian export strength turns up all over this month's blog — the index is just where it all adds up.
A price index is a thermometer for the whole trade. Right now it reads hot — and poultry is holding the match.
The 4DW Angle
Record reference prices lift the floor under everything attached to an animal — cuts, trimmings, offal and rendered products alike. When the headline index prints a record, a diversified book feels it across every line, not just one.
▮ Frequently asked questions
What did the FAO Meat Price Index reach in June 2026?
The FAO Meat Price Index reached an all-time high of 131.0 points in June 2026, up 0.4% on May's 130.5 and 4.0% on a year earlier. The index tracks a basket of international meat prices against a 2014-2016 base of 100, signalling that the world is short of protein and paying up.
Why did meat prices hit a record in June 2026?
Poultry led the June rise, lifted by firmer Brazilian export prices, the same strength visible in Brazil's record chicken data that month. The world is short of protein and paying up to get it. The index reached 131.0, up 4.0% year on year, an all-time high on the 2014-2016 base of 100.
Which meats rose and which fell in the June 2026 index?
The picture split by species. Poultry led the rise, lifted by firmer Brazilian export prices, while pigmeat fell, weighed down by ample supply in the European Union. One index told two very different stories, together netting an all-time high of 131.0 points, up 4.0% on a year earlier.
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