Key points
- FAO’s 2 October release reports the September 2026 meat index at 127.9 points.
- It fell 1.5 points, or 1.1%, from August; pig and poultry quotations declined while bovine and ovine prices were broadly stable.
- The base is 2014–2016 = 100. This is an international meat index, not a local live-animal purchase quote.
September’s meat index eased as pig and poultry prices fell, while bovine and ovine prices were broadly stable. Local livestock quotes still need separate checks.
The latest available reporting period
In its release dated 2 October 2026, FAO reported September’s Meat Price Index at 127.9 points, down 1.5 points or 1.1% month on month and broadly unchanged year on year. Lower pig and poultry quotations drove the decline, while bovine and ovine prices were broadly stable. These are September observations reviewed for this 13 October article, not an October live-market quotation.
What the index measures
The index tracks international meat price movements with a 2014–2016 base of 100. Its unit is index points, not dollars per tonne, and it does not directly measure prices paid for live pigs, cattle or sheep at a particular farm. FAO explains that recent meat-index values combine projected and observed prices and may be revised. A revised source series should therefore be checked before reusing these figures later.
Keep a separate procurement worksheet
Our planning recommendation is to record the local animal quote, location, date, currency and whether it is based on live weight or carcass weight. Keep transport, dressing assumptions and other deductions separate. Compare changes within the same species and price basis before using a global indicator to explain a supplier’s offer. An aggregate fall does not show that every cattle or sheep market became cheaper.
Use the signal in equipment planning
For an investment discussion, combine observed supply volumes, delivery peaks and the existing plant’s constraints with scenario assumptions. A one-month index movement cannot justify a fixed payback promise or determine line capacity. Share the pig, cattle or sheep operating brief and distinguish contracted supply from tentative forecasts when discussing equipment. No specific future price or investment return is predicted here.
Practical question
Can 127.9 points be used as a live-cattle purchase price?
No. It is a composite international meat-price index. Obtain a dated local cattle quote with its currency, unit and weight basis.
Related equipment and planning resources
Sources and further reading
Sources checked: