Meat Products Market Size, Share, and Trends 2024 to 2033

The global meat products market size was exhibited at USD 1,660.64 billion in 2023 and is projected to hit around USD 2,596.16 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 4.6% from 2024 to 2033.

Key Takeaways

• By geography, Asia Pacific is serving as the most dominating region.
• By source, the pork segment has gained the largest share of the global market.
• By product type, the processed meat segment has gained a maximum share of the global market. 
• By end-user, the commercial segment has gained the biggest share of the global market.
• By distribution channel, the business-to-consumer is the fastest-growing segment.

Meat Products Market in the Asia Pacific 2024 to 2033

The Asia Pacific meat products market size was estimated at USD 738.58 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach around USD 1,234.44 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2024 to 2033.

Asia Pacific held the dominating share of the meat products market in 2023. The rising popularity for meat food products across the region is observed to act as a growth factor for the market in the upcoming period. Governments and private stakeholders in the region have made significant investments in meat production, processing facilities, and distribution networks to meet growing demand. This infrastructure development supports efficient supply chains and ensures adequate availability of meat products in the market. Rapid urbanization in Asia Pacific has led to a rise in convenience-oriented lifestyles, with busy urban dwellers preferring ready-to-eat or easy-to-prepare meat products. This has spurred demand for processed and packaged meat items, such as sausages, deli meats, and pre-marinated cuts.

Meat Products Market Overview

Meat products are fresh or cooked meat manufactured entirely or partially from any meat or other piece of the carcass of any cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, or other animals. Meat products are primarily accessible in the form of processed meat or fresh meat. Cultured meat and plant-based meat are further types of meat products. Cultured meat, often known as clean meat, is grown in a bioreactor under controlled circumstances. Cultured meat is created from cells extracted directly from animal tissues to match the sensory and nutritional qualities of traditional meat.

Meat is termed processed when it is preserved by smoking, salting, fermenting, or adding any chemical to increase its shelf-life and improve its flavor. Meats including beef, hog, turkey, chicken, and lamb are frequently used to make processed meat. Pepperoni, jerky, hot dogs, and sausages are all types of processed meat items. Meat is treated with preservatives to keep it from rotting owing to germs and other organisms.

Deli meat is the most prevalent sort of processed meat. Pre-cooked or ready-to-eat meat items supplied fresh in a restaurant or deli food service are referred to as deli meat. Deli meat is made from beef, pork, chicken, turkey, veal, and ovine. Deli meat is offered in hypermarkets/supermarkets, specialty stores, and other retail channels as cold cuts or vacuum-packed sliced meats. Deli meat is offered on sandwiches and charcuterie plates at the deli food service. There are two varieties of deli meats: cured deli meats and uncured deli meats. To give deli meats a particular flavor and taste, they are infused with spices, salt, and flavorings.

Growth Factors

The significant factors which are leading to the growth of the meat products market are the increase in demand for ready-to-eat/ready-to-cook food products, a surge in demand for animal protein, and others. These significant factors are driving the growth of the meat products market.

• Increase in demand for ready-to-eat/ready-to-cook food products
• A surge in demand for animal protein

Meat Products Market Scope

Meat Products Market Dynamics

Key Market Drivers

Rapid urbanization and migration to urban areas - An increase in urbanization drives the demand for processed meat globally. The fast-food chains, cafes, and popular hotels are limited to major cities and towns. These fast-food chains and cafes play a significant role in the sales of meat products. According to the United Nations, 60% of the global population is expected to live in urban areas by 2030, increasing from 55% in 2018. This provides a lucrative opportunity for processed meat vendors to boost their revenue due to a rise in the prospected customer base. 

According to United Nations, North America was the most urbanized market in 2020, with around 82% of its population residing in urban cities. North America was followed by Latin America and the Caribbean (81%) and Europe (74%). Africa and Asia have the lowest level of urbanization with 43% and 50% of the population living in urban areas respectively. Africa and Asia, therefore are expected to provide significant development opportunities for the growth of the meat products market in the upcoming years.

The surge in demand for animal protein - Protein is a source of amino acids, and adequate protein intake is critical for maintaining the health and development of muscles. Animal proteins are complete proteins as they contain all the essential amino acids required in a complete meal. Animal protein is linked with nutritional benefits and assists in lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes, lowering the risk of heart diseases and maintaining body weight. Awareness regarding the nutritional benefits of animal proteins is increasing among the global population and especially health-conscious consumers, therefore increasing the consumption of animal protein. 

The higher availability of animal protein in the market due to increased livestock farming complemented by cost-effective pricing by manufacturers is encouraging them to opt for animal protein products. Moreover, the surge in the need for animal protein is boosting meat product manufacturers, as they are capitalizing on the opportunity by creating specialized meat products with added nutrients to meet market demand.

Key Market Challenges

Presence of nitrates and nitrites in processed meat - Cooked processed meat is a ready-to-eat poultry product. The majority of processed meats are cured meats with added chemical additives to extend the shelf life and inhibit the growth of microorganisms. A single serving of cured meat contains 500 mcg of nitrates. Potassium nitrate and sodium nitrite are the most commonly used curing agents, and they assist in maintaining the redness and colour of the meat. Nitrates in the meat change into nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide dilates the blood vessel and lowers blood pressure. 

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, nitrate is a potential producer of carcinogenic nitrosamines; nitrosamines are produced when cured meat products are heated to high temperatures over 266°F or 130°C, such as frying or grilling the meat. Nitrosamines are linked to oesophageal cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, and cardiac issues. 

Owing to the potential health risks associated with deli meat, its consumption has reduced drastically. As a result, customers have shifted their preference from cured meat products to fresh cuts of meat that are devoid of curing agents and additives. Thus, all these factors have restrained the growth of the global market.

The meat industry is vulnerable to infectious diseases - There are various diseases associated with meat that is well recognized among meat industry players and the general public or consumers. Several diseases include E. Coli from beef, bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSV) from cattle/beef, salmonella from poultry, trichinosis from pork, and scrapie from mutton or lamb. Recently African swine fever has spread into East Asia which has impacted adversely pork meat production. 

The decline in pork meat resulted in an increased demand for other meat resulting in a price hike of other meats. China was the most impacted market due to African swine fever, and it tried to meet the demand for pork meat by importing pork. Therefore, the sales and production both ridiculously deteriorate causing a temporary but huge impact on the meat market, with the outbreak of these meat-associated viruses and infectious diseases. Hence, the vulnerability of meat to infectious diseases hinders the growth of the meat products market.

Key Market Opportunities

To make the most of the opportunity vendors are advised to focus on growth prospects in the fastest-growing segments, while being rigid in the slow-growing segment. 

• Increasing product innovation.
• Technological advancement in meat products.

Source Insights

On the basis of source, meat products are segmented into poultry, beef, pork, mutton, sheep, goats, birds, and others. The pork segment has gained a major share of the global market. Pork has a unique taste with a crisp texture and contains nutritional benefits. This is attributed to the fact that consumers are attracted to the taste and prefer to consume pork meat more than other alternatives available in the market.

Product Type Insights

On the basis of product type, meat products are segmented into processed meat, cultured meat, plant-based meat, chilled, frozen, and canned/preserved. The processed meat segment has gained a major share of the global market. Processed meat has a longer shelf life and is consumed on the move. In addition, processed meat is gaining popularity due to the convenience offered, as they save time and cooked processed meat does not require any additional heating before consumption.

Distribution Channel Insights

On the basis of distribution channels, it is divided into business-to-business and business-to-consumer. Business-to-consumer is the fastest growing segment as the popularity of specialty stores is increasing due to their unique offering to the consumer based on their need.

Global Meat Products Market, By Distribution Channel, 2020-2023 (USD Billion)

Recent Developments

• In August 2021, Jennie-O Turkey a brand of Hormel Corporation launched turkey barbacoa a new product line in the turkey section. This move taken by brand is to extend the product portfolio and offer new product to the existing consumers.
• In February 2020, JBS S.A. launched several new items such as beef cuts during the Gulfood 2020 Show in Dubai.

Meat Products Market Companies

• American Foods Group, LLC.
• Cargill, Incorporated
• Hormel Foods Corporation
• JBS S.A.
• Koch Foods, LLC.
• Perdue Farms, Inc.
• Smithfield Foods, Inc.
• Swiss Meat & Sausages Co. 
• Tyson Foods, Inc.
• Boar’s Head Provisions Co, Inc.
• Conagra Foods, Inc. 
• Maple Leaf Foods, Inc.
• Sigma Alimentos, S.A. de C.V.
• The Kraft Heinz Company
• WH Group Limited.
• Sysco Corporation
• OSI Group, LLC
• George’s Inc.
• Butterball LLC.
• Fresh Mark, Inc.
• Indiana Packer’s Corporation
• West Liberty Foods, Inc.
• Agri Beef Co.
• Clemens Food Group.
• Carl Buddig Co.
• Rastelli Foods Group.
• Dietz & Watson, Inc.
• Abby Land Foods, Inc.
• Dakota Provision LLC.

Segments Covered in the Report

By Source

• Poultry
• Beef
• Pork
• Mutton
• Sheep
• Goats
• Birds
• Others

By Product Type

• Processed Meat Products
  • Fresh Processed Meat
  • Raw Cooked Meat
  • Pre Cooked meat
  • Raw Fermented Sausages
  • Cured meat
  • Dried Meat
• Cultured Meat Products
• Plant-based meat
• Chilled
• Frozen
• Canned/Preserved

By Distribution Channel

• Business to Business
• Business to Consumer
  • Hypermarket/supermarket
  • Convenience stores
  • Specialty stores
  • Online retail
  • Others

By Geography

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• The Middle East and Africa