Global Meat & Poultry Trends

Report Overview

Packaged Facts projects that global meat and poultry consumption will reach 313 million metric tons in 2023. Global per capita consumption will rise slightly to 39 kilograms per year. Nations in Africa and the Middle Easter, where meat consumption is currently low, will register the fastest consumption gains as per capita incomes allow more people to incorporate meat into their regular diet.

Shifts and trends impacting meat consumption

When analyzed by type, poultry will register the fastest increases, due largely to its low price. Concerns over the health impacts of red meats, especially in high income countries, have also caused an ongoing shift in consumption toward poultry.

Further analysis in Global Meat & Poultry Trends discusses a number of trends that can affect meat consumption. These include the correlation between per capita income and meat consumption, competition from meat alternatives (with an emphasis on plant based products such as those offered by Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods), flexitarian and other diets, animal welfare issues, and the impact of meat consumption on human health.

Scope of this Report

This report looks at the current and forecasted global market for meat and poultry products, including pork, poultry, beef, and other meat products. The report is also segmented to discuss regional variations in meat and poultry consumption, and figures are broken out for 15 countries. The discussion includes key trends impacting meat consumption. Demand figures are presented in metric tons and long-term trends and year-to-year volatility in consumption are also included.

Methodology

This report encompasses consumption of meat, poultry, and meat substitutes measured in carcass weight equivalent. Sources of data consulted for this report include:

• government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food & Agriculture Association of the United Nations, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development;
• meat and poultry processors and representative trade associations;
• a wide range of pertinent industry sources, including business newspapers and magazines, company websites, consumer blogs, press releases, and trade publications.

This report covers the global market for meat and poultry.

Types of meat covered in this report include:

• beef and veal
• pork
• poultry
• other meat (e.g., sheep, goat, lamb)

Seafood is excluded from the scope of this report.

Historical data (2008, 2013, and 2018) and forecasts for 2023 are provided in kilograms and in US dollars for meat demand by type and global region. Demand is also provided for 14 countries.

Historical data on meat consumption and retail prices was sourced from a variety of organizations, including:

• OECD
• World Bank