In 2023, Brazil was the largest exporter of beef worldwide with exports amounting to a value of 7.2 billion U.S. dollars, followed by Australia, with eight billion dollars. The global meat industry The meat industry was valued at approximately 897.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, and projected to increase to almost 1.4 trillion U.S. dollars in 2027. Poultry was the most produced type of meat worldwide in 2022, followed by pork. More than 135 million metric tons of poultry were produced worldwide, compared to some 121 million metric tons of pork. Beef and veal came in third place, with a production volume of about 72 million metric tons in 2022. Asia Pacific accounted for share of more than half of the global meat market in 2020. International trade In 2022, Brazil and the United States were forecasted to be the top exporters of beef and veal, with an export volume of 2.6 million and 1.5 million metric tons of beef and veal, respectively. While China and the United States were the leading destinations for exports of Brazilian beef, Canada was by far the leading country of destination for U.S. prepared or preserved beef and veal exports, with an export volume of nearly 25 thousand metric tons in 2020.

Between 2016 and 2024, the production volume of meat worldwide has increased from 317 million metric tons to about 350.75 million metric tons. Top producers of meat Asia has the highest production of meat of any world region, at about 152 million metric tons in 2021. The Americas came in second at 111.7 million metric tons in that year. Despite this, several of the top meat production companies worldwide are based in the United States, such as Tyson, Hormel Foods, and Pilgrim's Pride. In 2023, Hormel had the highest market capitalization, making it the leading meat production corporation in the world. Meat consumption worldwide In 2021, poultry and pork were the two most popular kinds of meat in terms of global consumption. When it comes to per capita sales, Germans purchase the highest volume of meat products and sausage worldwide, followed by Slovakians.

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Meat Market Size 2024-2028

The meat market size is valued to increase USD 537.1 billion, at a CAGR of 6.78% from 2023 to 2028. Advancement in technology will drive the meat market.

Major Market Trends & Insights

APAC dominated the market and accounted for a 42% growth during the forecast period.
By Product - Poultry segment was valued at USD 257.90 billion in 2022
By Type - Processed segment accounted for the largest market revenue share in 2022

Market Size & Forecast

Market Opportunities: USD 165.00 billion
Market Future Opportunities: USD 537.10 billion
CAGR : 6.78%
APAC: Largest market in 2022

Market Summary

The market encompasses a dynamic and continually evolving industry, driven by various factors that shape its current landscape. Core technologies, such as precision farming and automation, are revolutionizing meat production processes, leading to increased efficiency and productivity. Applications of these technologies are increasingly prevalent, with automation accounting for over 30% of the global meat processing market share. However, the industry faces challenges, including the rising demand for grass-fed and organic meat, which can be more costly and complex to produce, and increasing livestock disease outbreaks.
Regulations also play a significant role in shaping the market, with stricter regulations on animal welfare and food safety driving industry innovation and adaptation. The evolving nature of the market underscores the importance of staying informed about the latest trends and developments.

What will be the Size of the Meat Market during the forecast period?

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How is the Meat Market Segmented and what are the key trends of market segmentation?

The meat industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD billion' for the period 2024-2028, as well as historical data from 2018-2022 for the following segments.

Product

  Poultry
  Pork
  Beef
  Others


Type

  Processed
  Fresh


Distribution Channel

  Retail
  Foodservice


Geography

  North America

    US
    Canada


  Europe

    France
    Germany
    Italy
    UK


  Middle East and Africa

    Egypt
    KSA
    Oman
    UAE


  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan


  South America

    Argentina
    Brazil


  Rest of World (ROW)

By Product Insights

The poultry segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

The global meat market continues to evolve, driven by innovation and shifting consumer preferences. Advances in cellular agriculture bioreactors and optimization of fermentation processes for protein production have transformed how alternative proteins are developed, enabling scalable production of meat analogues. These technologies address the growing demand for sustainable options by improving the sustainability of meat production and reducing the carbon footprint of alternative protein. For instance, strategies for improving the nutritional content and the evaluation of sensory properties of meat analogues ensure products meet consumer expectations for taste and texture. Additionally, the analysis of fatty acid composition in alternative protein and the investigation of protein extraction methods contribute to creating healthier, high-quality options that align with dietary needs.

A key aspect of market dynamics is the comparison of production techniques. Research indicates that 3D bioprinting techniques vary significantly, with some methods achieving up to 23.3% higher precision in muscle fiber development compared to traditional approaches. This precision enhances the texture profile and water-holding capacity in cultured meat, critical for consumer acceptance. Meanwhile, methods for microbial contamination control and the assessment of allergenic potential in cultured meat ensure safety and broaden market appeal. The development of novel meat alternative products, coupled with determining the shelf life of meat alternatives, supports long-term market growth. As consumer acceptance of cultured meat products rises, the market adapts through continuous innovation, balancing environmental goals with quality and nutritional advancements.

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The Poultry segment was valued at USD 257.90 billion in 2018 and showed a gradual increase during the forecast period.

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Regional Analysis

APAC is estimated to contribute 42% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period.Technavio's analysts have elaborately explained the regional trends and drivers that shape the market during the forecast period.

See How Meat Market Demand is Rising in APAC Request Free Sample

The European the market encompasses a vast and intricate ecosystem, incorporating meat production, processing,

The Processed Meat Market Report is Segmented by Type (Beef, Mutton, Pork, Poultry, and Other Meat), Distribution Channel (On-Trade and Off-Trade), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD) and Volume (Tonnes).

The meat market value reached approximately USD 1.49 Trillion in 2024. The market is further projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.30% between 2025 and 2034, reaching a value of USD 1.87 Trillion by 2034.

Global meat market analysis for 2024-2035: Consumption trends, production statistics, trade flows, and market forecasts with volume reaching 251M tons and value $1,180.4B by 2035. Key insights on China's dominance, pork and beef leadership, and import-export dynamics.

The Canned Meat Market Report is Segmented by Meat Type (Beef, Chicken, Pork, and Others), Form (Corned Beef, Luncheon Meat, Sausage, and Other Canned Meat), Distribution Channel (Off-Trade and On-Trade), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

The value of the global meat sector was estimated to value at **** billion U.S. dollars in 2024, and was forecast to increase to ****** billion U.S. dollars by 2030. Global meat industry The production volume of meat worldwide has seen a slight increase between 2016 and 2020, from ***** million metric tons to around *** million metric tons. During that time period, pork and poultry were the two most produced types of meat in terms of weight. In 2016 and 2017, pork had a slightly larger production volume than poultry, but between 2017 and 2020, poultry overtook pork as the leading of meat worldwide. Beef in the United States The United States is the world’s leading producer of beef and veal as of 2020. In that year, the U.S.’s beef production amounted to **** million metric tons. The United States also has the largest domestic consumption of beef of any country. On a regional level, the amount that each consumer in the United States spends on beef on an annual basis varies quite significantly, with the Western United States having the highest household expenditure on beef, and the Midwest having the lowest.

Animal production statistics cover three main sub-domains based on three pieces of relevant legislation and related gentlemen’s agreements.

• Livestock and meat statistics are collected under Regulation (EC) No 1165/2008. They cover meat production, as activity of slaughterhouses (monthly) and as other slaughtering (annual), meat production (gross indigenous production) forecast (semi-annual or quarterly), livestock statistics, including regional statistics. A quality report is also collected every third year.
• Milk and milk product statistics are collected under Decision 97/80/EC implementing Directive 96/16/EC. They cover farm production and utilisation of milk (annual), collection (monthly for cows’ milk) and production activity by dairies (annual) and statistics on the structure of dairies (every third year). An annual methodological report is also collected.
• Statistics on eggs for hatching and farmyard poultry chicks are collected under Regulation (EC) No 617/2008, implementing Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 (Single CMO Regulation). They cover statistics on the structure (annual) and the activity (monthly) of hatcheries as well as reports on the external trade of chicks.

European Economic Area countries (EEA - Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) are requested to provide milk statistics, with the exception of those related to home consumption, as stated in Annex XXI of the EEA Agreement. Liechtenstein is exempted in the Agreement, only Norway is concerned.

The Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on cooperation in the field of statistics states that Switzerland must provide Eurostat with national milk statistics and, after 2013, livestock and meat statistics.

The same statistics are requested from the candidate and potential candidate countries as EU acquis.

The statistical tables disseminated by Eurostat are organised, under Animal production (apro_anip), into three groups of tables on Milk and milk products (apro_mk), Livestock and meat (apro_mt) and Poultry farming (apro_ec). This later label covers statistics on hatcheries and trade in chicks and on production of eggs for consumption. The regional animal production statistics collected on livestock (agr_r_animal) and on cows’ milk production on farms (agr_r_milk_pr) are disseminated separately.

Due to the change in the legal basis or in the methodology, the time series may be broken. This is indicated by a flag in the tables.

Further data about the same topics refer to repealed legal acts or agreements. The tables on statistics on the structure of rearing (apro_mt_str) and the number of laying hens (apro_ec_lshen) or of equidae (apro_mt_lsequi) are therefore no longer updated. The same applies to some variables (external trade of animals and meat), periods (surveys in April or August) or items (number of horses) included in other tables.

The detailed content of each table and the reference to its legal definition is provided in the table below.

Table 3.1: Data tables disseminated regarding animal production statistics

<td

Table	Label	Legal basis	Legal reference	Collection frequency / time periods	Deadline (Y=year)	Comments
Poultry farming (apro_ec)
apro_ec_poula	Poultry (annual data)	Derived		annual
apro_ec_poulm	Poultry (monthly data)	Reg. (EC) No 617/2008	Annex III	monthly	45 days
apro_ec_strpoul	Hatcheries - poultry other than hens	Reg. (EC) No 617/2008	Annex IV	annual	30 January Y + 1
apro_ec_strhen	Hatcheries - hens
apro_ec_eggcons	Eggs for consumption	ESS agreement	ESSC 2017/35/8 (11/2017)	annual

The statistic shows the projected meat consumption per capita worldwide from 2023 to 2034. It was predicted that the global consumption of meat per capita in 2034 will be **** kilograms (retail weight equivalent).

The Global Livestock & Meat Market Report is Segmented by Livestock Activity (Live Animals Trade, Edible Meat, Meat Byproducts, and Livestock Products) and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and Middle-East and Africa). The Report Offers Market Size and Forecast for the Livestock and Meat Market in Value (USD) and Volume (metric Tons) for all the Above Segments.

The Saudi Arabia Edible Meat Market Report is Segmented by Type (Beef, Mutton, Poultry, Other Meat), Form (Canned, Fresh/Chilled, Frozen, Processed), Distribution Channel (HoReCa, Retail). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD) and Volume (Tons).

The processed meat industry is projected to enrol in a robust growth, as the global industry is forecasted to expand USD 398.6 billion in 2025 and USD 756.3 billion in 2035. This will be accompanied by a CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period.

Metrics	Values
Industry Size (2025E)	USD 398.6 billion
Industry Value (2035F)	USD 756.3 billion
Value-based CAGR (2025 to 2035)	6.7%

Semi-Annual Demand Space Update

Particular	Value CAGR
H1 2024	6.4% (2024 to 2034)
H2 2024	6.6% (2024 to 2034)
H1 2025	6.7% (2025 to 2035)
H2 2025	7.0% (2025 to 2035)

Competition Outlook

Company Name	Estimated Industry Share (%)
JBS S A	22-25
Tyson Foods Inc	18-22
WH Group Smithfield Foods	12-15
Cargill Inc	8-11
Hormel Foods Corporation	6-9
Other Companies Combined	20-30

Cattle and calves, farm and meat production, Canada (head unless otherwise noted). Data are available on an annual basis.

United States Red Meat Production: Annual: Commercial: Beef data was reported at 26,988.000 lb mn in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 26,967.100 lb mn for 2023. United States Red Meat Production: Annual: Commercial: Beef data is updated yearly, averaging 24,986.000 lb mn from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2024, with 55 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28,290.700 lb mn in 2022 and a record low of 21,089.000 lb mn in 1973. United States Red Meat Production: Annual: Commercial: Beef data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Economic Research Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RI025: Red Meat Production.

The main dataset contains data on the consumption of various types of meat (beef, pork, poultry, fish, etc.) by country per capita per year.

The contents of the dataset

The Main Dataset has 10 081 rows and 8 columns.

• Entity - name of country or territory;
• Year - years from 1961 to 2021;
• Poultry - consumption of meat of chicken, turkey, duck or other poultry per capita;
• Beef - consumption of meat of cow per capita;
• Sheep and goat - consumption of meat of sheep or goat per capita;
• Pork - consumption of meat of peg per capita;
• Other meats - consumption of other types of meat (e.g. horse meat) per capita;
• Fish and seafood - consumption of fish and seafood per capita.