While the EU's staggering production of 44.5 million tonnes of meat in 2022 paints a picture of a colossal industry, the real story lies in the dynamic shifts, regional powerhouses, and the sustainability challenges simmering beneath these massive numbers.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the EU produced 44.5 million tonnes of meat, with poultry accounting for 15.2 million tonnes, pork 23.1 million tonnes, and beef 7.8 million tonnes
- Spain led EU pork production in 2022 with 4.8 million tonnes, followed by Germany at 4.2 million tonnes and France at 2.5 million tonnes
- EU poultry meat production reached 15.2 million tonnes in 2022, up 2.1% from 2021, driven by increased demand in Eastern Europe
- EU households consumed 78.5 kg of meat per capita in 2022, with pork at 31.2 kg, poultry 25.4 kg, and beef 15.8 kg
- Germany's per capita meat consumption was 88 kg in 2022, highest in EU, pork dominant at 38 kg
- France consumed 92 kg meat per capita in 2022, with 23 kg poultry and 18 kg beef
- EU exported 4.2 million tonnes of meat in 2022, valued at €22.5 billion, poultry leading at 1.8 million tonnes
- EU pork exports reached 1.6 million tonnes in 2022, mainly to China
- Netherlands was top EU meat exporter with €8.5 billion in 2022, poultry focused
- EU meat industry employed 1.2 million people directly in 2022, with 4.5 million indirect jobs
- EU meat sector turnover €250 billion in 2022, 14% of agri-food total
- Pork processing added €50 billion value in EU 2022, Germany leading
- EU meat GHG emissions totaled 1.2 billion tonnes CO2eq in 2022, 18% of agri total
- EU pork production water footprint 5,500 liters per kg in 2022 average
- Poultry farming land use 0.8 m² per kg meat in EU 2022, lowest among meats
In 2022, the EU meat industry was large, varied, and a major global producer and exporter.
Consumption
- EU households consumed 78.5 kg of meat per capita in 2022, with pork at 31.2 kg, poultry 25.4 kg, and beef 15.8 kg
- Germany's per capita meat consumption was 88 kg in 2022, highest in EU, pork dominant at 38 kg
- France consumed 92 kg meat per capita in 2022, with 23 kg poultry and 18 kg beef
- Italy's meat intake averaged 82 kg per person in 2022, pork 35 kg
- Spain per capita consumption hit 95 kg in 2022, pork 45 kg leading
- Poland consumed 80 kg meat per capita in 2022, poultry up to 30 kg
- Netherlands meat consumption per capita 85 kg in 2022, high poultry at 28 kg
- EU poultry consumption grew 1.5% to 25.4 kg per capita in 2022
- Beef consumption in EU declined to 15.8 kg per capita in 2022 from 16.5 kg in 2020
- Pork consumption per capita in EU stable at 31.2 kg in 2022, despite price rises
- Belgium's per capita meat intake 84 kg in 2022
- Denmark consumed 79 kg meat per capita in 2022, down due to sustainability trends
- Ireland's beef consumption 20 kg per capita in 2022, highest for beef in EU
- Greece per capita meat consumption 75 kg in 2022, lamb significant at 12 kg
- EU processed meat consumption 25 kg per capita in 2022, sausages and hams key
- Finland's meat consumption 78 kg per capita in 2022, pork 32 kg
- Portugal consumed 82 kg meat per capita in 2022, poultry 26 kg
- Sweden's per capita consumption dropped to 72 kg in 2022, reflecting vegan trends
- EU youth (18-24) meat consumption down 10% to 65 kg per capita in 2022
- Hungary consumed 85 kg meat per capita in 2022, pork 40 kg
- Austria's meat intake 82 kg per capita in 2022
- EU organic meat consumption rose to 2.5 kg per capita in 2022, up 8%
- Romania per capita 70 kg meat in 2022, poultry dominant
- Czechia consumed 88 kg per capita in 2022, high pork
- EU meat consumption share in total protein 55% in 2022
- Bulgaria's per capita meat intake 65 kg in 2022, rising
Consumption Interpretation
The EU's dinner plate tells a clear story: while a stubborn pork chop still dominates the center, a growing chorus of sustainability concerns, rising poultry, and a side of youth-led veganism are all vying for a seat at the table.
Economic
- EU meat industry employed 1.2 million people directly in 2022, with 4.5 million indirect jobs
- EU meat sector turnover €250 billion in 2022, 14% of agri-food total
- Pork processing added €50 billion value in EU 2022, Germany leading
- Poultry sector generated 300,000 direct jobs in EU 2022, Poland 100,000
- EU beef industry wages averaged €28,000 per worker in 2022
- Meat exports contributed 20% to EU agri-food trade surplus in 2022, €22 billion
- Spain's meat industry GDP contribution 2.5% or €30 billion in 2022
- EU meat R&D investment €1.2 billion in 2022, focus on sustainability
- Netherlands meat processing turnover €15 billion in 2022
- EU meat farm income rose 8% to €25,000 per farm in 2022
- France meat sector employed 250,000 in processing 2022
- Pork value chain multiplier effect 2.8 jobs per direct job in EU 2022
- EU poultry meat retail prices up 12% to €4.5/kg in 2022
- Germany meat industry taxes contributed €20 billion in 2022
- EU meat SMEs (under 250 employees) 95% of firms, turnover €100 billion 2022
- Ireland beef exports value €3.5 billion, 50% GDP agri share 2022
- EU meat energy costs rose 25% to €10 billion in 2022
- Belgium meat processing productivity 150 tonnes/worker/year 2022
- EU organic meat market value €15 billion in 2022, growth 10%
- Poland meat industry FDI €2 billion in 2022
- EU meat feed costs €80 billion in 2022, 40% of production costs
- Denmark meat sector profit margins 5% average in 2022
Economic Interpretation
It's a heavyweight champion of the European economy, feeding millions of paychecks and government coffers with one hand while nervously juggling soaring costs and the planet's future with the other.
Production
- In 2022, the EU produced 44.5 million tonnes of meat, with poultry accounting for 15.2 million tonnes, pork 23.1 million tonnes, and beef 7.8 million tonnes
- Spain led EU pork production in 2022 with 4.8 million tonnes, followed by Germany at 4.2 million tonnes and France at 2.5 million tonnes
- EU poultry meat production reached 15.2 million tonnes in 2022, up 2.1% from 2021, driven by increased demand in Eastern Europe
- Beef production in the EU totaled 7.8 million tonnes carcass weight equivalent in 2022, with Ireland contributing 1.4 million tonnes
- The Netherlands produced 2.3 million tonnes of poultry meat in 2022, representing 15% of total EU output
- EU pigmeat production in 2023 forecast at 22.8 million tonnes, down 1.5% due to African Swine Fever impacts in some regions
- France's beef production stood at 1.4 million tonnes in 2022, supported by strong dairy herd integration
- Poland's poultry sector produced 2.1 million tonnes in 2022, making it the EU's second-largest producer
- EU sheep and goat meat production was 1.2 million tonnes in 2022, with Greece leading at 180,000 tonnes
- Germany's broiler production increased to 1.6 million tonnes in 2022, up 3% year-on-year
- Italy produced 1.1 million tonnes of pork in 2022, focusing on protected designations like Parma ham precursors
- EU total meat production value reached €168 billion in 2022, with pork dominating at 42%
- Denmark's pigmeat output was 1.3 million tonnes in 2022, 90% exported
- Belgium's poultry production hit 1.2 million tonnes in 2022, boosted by export-oriented farming
- EU veal production totaled 850,000 tonnes in 2022, primarily from the Netherlands and France
- Hungary's pork production recovered to 700,000 tonnes in 2022 post-ASF
- Cyprus produced 15,000 tonnes of sheep meat in 2022, niche but significant per capita
- EU rabbit meat production was 250,000 tonnes in 2022, led by Spain and Italy
- Austria's beef output was 250,000 tonnes in 2022, emphasizing grass-fed systems
- EU duck and goose meat production reached 450,000 tonnes in 2022, France dominant
- Romania's poultry production grew to 700,000 tonnes in 2022, up 5%
- EU meat production per capita farmgate value was €380 in 2022
- Greece's lamb production was 140,000 tonnes in 2022, seasonal peak in Easter
- EU total live animal slaughter for meat was 6.2 billion heads in 2022, pigs 1.4 billion
- Finland's pork production was 180,000 tonnes in 2022, stable despite high feed costs
- EU horse meat production declined to 10,000 tonnes in 2022 amid welfare concerns
- Portugal's poultry output was 550,000 tonnes in 2022
- EU game meat production estimated at 100,000 tonnes in 2022, unregulated sector
- Sweden's organic meat production share was 20% of total in 2022
- EU per farm meat production averaged 1,200 tonnes for large holdings in 2022
Production Interpretation
Europe's dinner plate is a carefully balanced, €168 billion jigsaw puzzle where pork reigns supreme, poultry's star is rising, beef holds its ground, and every nation from Spanish pig farms to Greek lamb pastures plays a specialized, and sometimes precarious, part in feeding the continent.
Sustainability
- EU meat GHG emissions totaled 1.2 billion tonnes CO2eq in 2022, 18% of agri total
- EU pork production water footprint 5,500 liters per kg in 2022 average
- Poultry farming land use 0.8 m² per kg meat in EU 2022, lowest among meats
- EU beef methane emissions 400 million tonnes CO2eq from enteric fermentation 2022
- 25% of EU pig farms adopted precision feeding reducing N excretion by 20% in 2022
- EU meat antibiotics use down 50% since 2011 to 500 tonnes in 2022
- Poultry carbon footprint 4.5 kg CO2eq per kg meat in EU 2022
- EU manure from meat production 1.8 billion tonnes in 2022, 30% recycled as fertilizer
- Beef farming deforestation link reduced to 1% imported soy in EU feed 2022
- EU meat waste 15 million tonnes annually, 20% post-farm 2022
- Renewable energy in EU meat plants reached 25% of total use in 2022
- Pork N2O emissions 50 million tonnes CO2eq from EU meat sector 2022
- EU poultry ammonia emissions cut 15% to 400,000 tonnes via housing tech 2022
- Organic meat share in EU production 4.5% in 2022, up from 3.8%
- EU meat sector biodiversity impact score improved 10% with CAP 2022 measures
- Water use efficiency in EU pig farms 20% better in 2022 vs 2018
- EU beef grass-fed systems 40% of production, lower emissions 2022
- Meat plant wastewater treatment 95% compliance in EU 2022
- EU poultry feed soy deforestation-free 85% certified in 2022
- GHG intensity of EU pork down 12% since 2005 to 6 kg CO2eq/kg 2022
- EU meat transport emissions 50 million tonnes CO2eq 2022
- Precision livestock farming adopted on 30% EU meat farms 2022, cutting emissions 15%
Sustainability Interpretation
While the EU meat industry is making commendable strides in efficiency and pollution control, its sheer scale still creates a mammoth environmental hoofprint that's hard to graze past.
Trade
- EU exported 4.2 million tonnes of meat in 2022, valued at €22.5 billion, poultry leading at 1.8 million tonnes
- EU pork exports reached 1.6 million tonnes in 2022, mainly to China
- Netherlands was top EU meat exporter with €8.5 billion in 2022, poultry focused
- EU beef exports totaled 0.9 million tonnes in 2022, Ireland leading with 400,000 tonnes
- Spain exported 2.1 million tonnes pork in 2022, 95% to Asia
- EU poultry exports up 5% to 1.8 million tonnes in 2022, Poland 1.1 million tonnes
- Germany exported €4.2 billion meat in 2022, pork dominant
- EU meat imports were 1.3 million tonnes in 2022, mainly poultry from Brazil
- France beef exports 250,000 tonnes in 2022 to Middle East
- Denmark pork exports 1.2 million tonnes in 2022, 80% to non-EU
- EU intra-EU meat trade volume 12 million tonnes in 2022
- Belgium poultry exports €2.1 billion in 2022
- Poland's meat exports hit €5 billion in 2022, poultry 70%
- EU sheep meat exports 150,000 tonnes in 2022, Ireland key
- Italy exported 300,000 tonnes pork products in 2022
- EU meat trade balance surplus €15 billion in 2022
- Netherlands intra-EU poultry trade 800,000 tonnes in 2022
- EU imports of poultry meat 900,000 tonnes in 2022, 60% from Ukraine pre-war
- Ireland beef exports to UK 300,000 tonnes in 2022
- Germany pork exports to China 600,000 tonnes in 2022
- EU rabbit meat exports 50,000 tonnes in 2022, Spain leader
- France foie gras exports €500 million in 2022
- EU meat exports to UK post-Brexit 1.2 million tonnes in 2022
- Spain pork exports to Philippines 200,000 tonnes in 2022
- EU poultry imports from Thailand 100,000 tonnes in 2022
- Denmark bacon exports to Japan €300 million in 2022
Trade Interpretation
The EU's meat industry, a €22.5 billion global powerhouse, runs on a finely-tuned engine of Dutch poultry, Spanish and Danish pork for Asia, and Irish beef, all while keeping the home fires burning with a colossal 12-million-tonne internal trade that proves we still like our neighbors' cooking best.
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