During the first half of 2026, Europe exported slightly more sheep meat and imported slightly less compared to the same period in 2025, even though its overall production of sheep meat decreased. This reduction in production led to less supply on the European market. According to Eurostat, the number of sheep slaughtered in Europe dropped by 1.3 percent during the first half of 2026. The decline was most noticeable in Spain (-5 percent), Ireland (-6 percent), and Greece (-2 percent). However, in France, the number of lambs slaughtered increased by 3 percent, while in Italy it decreased by 7 percent. The drop in production is attributed to higher costs of production, reduced investment in some countries, an aging farming population, and challenges from weather conditions and animal diseases. The European Union exported 19,400 tonnes equivalent carcass (téc) of sheep meat between January and July 2026, marking a 17 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025. Nearly half of this meat, around 9,000 téc, was destined for Algeria, whose purchases of European sheep meat rose by 12 percent this year. Algeria did not buy European sheep meat before 2024. According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), this increase in Algerian purchases is linked to population growth, rising demand for aïd (a traditional Islamic festival meal), and a local industry struggling with declining production and rising costs. Algeria has been the leading export market for European sheep meat for the past two years, surpassing the United Kingdom in this regard. During the same period, the European Union imported 96,500 téc of sheep meat, which is 3 percent less than the first seven months of 2025. New Zealand remains the largest supplier to the EU, providing 45,800 téc, a 1 percent increase. However, imports from the United Kingdom dropped by 6 percent, and those from Australia fell by 9 percent. With more exports, fewer imports, and production under pressure, the amount of consumable sheep meat available in the European Union declined by 1 percent during the first half of 2026, according to the British AHDB. This situation is seen as an opportunity for British exports to the continent. This trend also explains the firmness of European sheep meat prices, which are currently 7 to 8 percent higher than the same time last year, according to Eurostat. In France, the organization Idele reports that the available consumable sheep meat has declined by 2 percent in one year and is 17 percent below the 2015-2019 average.