This page connects what UK households buy with what gets produced, processed, and exported across the supply chain. You’ll see how poultry, beef and veal, pork, and lamb and mutton move from farm and processing into market demand, alongside margins, turnover, and farmgate value. It also maps employment and regional workforce pressures, including how changes in output can shift trade and economic impact.
Key Takeaways
- UK per capita poultry meat consumption reached 32.5 kg in 2022, up 1.8% from 2021
- Beef and veal consumption in UK households averaged 15.2 kg per person in 2022
- Pork consumption totalled 22.1 kg per capita in 2022, stable despite price rises
- Meat industry GVA contributed £8.2 billion to UK economy in 2022, 0.4% of GDP
- Poultry sector turnover reached £6.5 billion in 2022 UK
- Red meat farmgate value was £7.8 billion in 2022, up 12% YoY
- UK meat industry directly employed 82,000 people in 2022, down 1% from 2021
- Poultry processing sector had 45,000 full-time jobs in UK 2022
- Beef farming workforce totalled 28,000 in England 2022
- In 2022, UK red meat production reached 2.16 million tonnes carcass weight equivalent, a 1.5% decrease from 2021
- UK poultry meat production in 2023 was 1.98 million tonnes, up 2% from the previous year driven by broiler growth
- Beef and veal production in the UK for 2022 totalled 877,000 tonnes, down 4% year-on-year due to lower throughput
- UK exported £5.1 billion worth of meat in 2022, up 8% from 2021
- Poultry meat exports from UK totalled 380,000 tonnes in 2022, mainly to EU
- Beef exports reached 160,000 tonnes in 2022, valued at £1.2 billion
UK poultry demand rose in 2022 while wider red meat volumes fell, yet exports and industry value grew.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumption19 stats
01
UK per capita poultry meat consumption reached 32.5 kg in 2022, up 1.8% from 2021
02
Beef and veal consumption in UK households averaged 15.2 kg per person in 2022
03
Pork consumption totalled 22.1 kg per capita in 2022, stable despite price rises
04
Lamb and mutton intake was 4.8 kg per person annually in 2022 UK, down 0.2 kg
05
Total meat consumption per capita in UK was 79.6 kg in 2022, with poultry at 41%
06
Out-of-home poultry consumption grew 3% to 12 kg per capita in 2023
07
UK bacon consumption reached 7.5 kg per person in 2022, highest in sausages at 8.2 kg
08
Processed meat products accounted for 45% of total UK meat consumption in 2022
09
Organic meat consumption grew 5% to 2.1 kg per capita in 2022 UK
10
Poultry mince consumption surged 8% in UK retail in 2022 to 1.2 million tonnes
11
Beef mince represented 35% of total beef consumption in UK homes 2022
12
Sausages and burgers made up 28% of pork consumption in 2022 UK
13
Lamb leg joints sales fell 4% in volume but rose 2% in value 2022
14
UK takeaway chicken consumption hit 4.5 kg per capita in 2022
15
Per capita turkey consumption was 2.8 kg in 2022, mostly seasonal
16
Game meat consumption remained at 0.3 kg per capita in 2022 UK
17
Vegan meat alternative consumption grew 12% but still only 1.5% of total meat equiv in 2022
18
Household beef purchases averaged £45 per week in 2022 UK
19
Pork chop sales volume up 6% in 2023 Q1 due to promotions
Interpretation
Consumption Interpretation
For the UK consumption picture in 2022 and 2023, poultry remains the clear driver with 32.5 kg per person in 2022 and 12 kg per capita out of home in 2023 after rising 3%, while total meat consumption sits at 79.6 kg per capita with poultry making up 41%.
02 · Category
Economics19 stats
01
Meat industry GVA contributed £8.2 billion to UK economy in 2022, 0.4% of GDP
02
Poultry sector turnover reached £6.5 billion in 2022 UK
03
Red meat farmgate value was £7.8 billion in 2022, up 12% YoY
04
Processing margins for beef averaged 15% in 2022 UK
05
Pigmeat producer prices peaked at £2.10/kg in Q3 2022
06
Retail price index for meat rose 11% in 2022 due to inflation
07
Investment in UK meat processing plants totalled £450 million in 2022
08
Export contribution to meat industry revenue: 20% or £2 billion in 2022
09
Cost of feed for poultry producers averaged £350/tonne in 2022, up 25%
10
Labour costs represented 25% of meat processing expenses in 2022 UK
11
Energy costs for abattoirs surged 40% to £1,200 per tonne processed in 2022
12
Farm assurance certification covered 95% of UK meat production value in 2022
13
R&D spend in meat sector was £120 million in 2022, focused on efficiency
14
Profitability index for sheep farms: 1.05 in 2022, marginal
15
Beef farm incomes averaged £35,000 per unit in 2022 UK
16
Pig farm net margin was 8% in 2022 after recovery
17
Poultry integrator profits hit £1.2 billion in 2022
18
Tax contributions from meat industry: £2.5 billion VAT and corp tax 2022
19
Price volatility index for lamb: 18% in 2022 UK markets
Interpretation
Economics Interpretation
In 2022 the UK meat industry added £8.2 billion to the economy and with red meat farmgate value up 12% year on year to £7.8 billion while meat retail prices rose 11% from inflation, the economics of the sector were shaped by strong producer gains alongside higher consumer costs.
03 · Category
Employment19 stats
01
UK meat industry directly employed 82,000 people in 2022, down 1% from 2021
02
Poultry processing sector had 45,000 full-time jobs in UK 2022
03
Beef farming workforce totalled 28,000 in England 2022
04
Pig sector employed 14,500 on farms in UK 2022, plus 20,000 in processing
05
Sheep and lamb farming jobs numbered 22,000 across UK in 2022
06
Total meat processing employment was 140,000 in 2022 UK, 60% skilled labour
07
15% of UK meat industry workers were EU nationals in 2022 post-Brexit
08
Average wage in UK meat processing was £28,500 in 2022, up 5% YoY
09
Poultry farm labour force grew 2% to 12,000 in 2022 due to expansion
10
Abattoir workers totalled 18,000 in UK 2022, facing 10% vacancy rate
11
Women comprised 35% of meat packing workforce in 2022 UK
12
Apprenticeships in meat industry reached 4,500 starts in 2022
13
Self-employed farmers in livestock meat sectors: 65,000 in 2022 UK
14
UK meat supply chain supported 500,000 indirect jobs in 2022
15
Training spend in meat processing hit £45 million in 2022
16
Youth employment (under 25) in meat sector was 18% of total in 2022
17
Regional employment: Scotland meat industry 15,000 jobs in 2022
18
Turnover per employee in UK meat processing averaged £250,000 in 2022
19
Labour productivity in poultry processing rose 3% to 15 tonnes per worker annually 2022
Interpretation
Employment Interpretation
In the UK meat industry, employment slipped slightly to 82,000 direct jobs in 2022, with overall meat processing accounting for 140,000 roles and 60% being skilled labour, showing that while headcount eased overall, the sector’s workforce remains heavily concentrated in skilled processing jobs.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production20 stats
01
In 2022, UK red meat production reached 2.16 million tonnes carcass weight equivalent, a 1.5% decrease from 2021
02
UK poultry meat production in 2023 was 1.98 million tonnes, up 2% from the previous year driven by broiler growth
03
Beef and veal production in the UK for 2022 totalled 877,000 tonnes, down 4% year-on-year due to lower throughput
04
Pigmeat production in England during 2022 was 712,000 tonnes deadweight, reflecting a 5% decline amid high feed costs
05
Sheepmeat production in the UK hit 364,000 tonnes in 2022, stable despite export pressures
06
UK broiler production volume in Q4 2023 was 490,000 tonnes, a 1.2% increase quarter-on-quarter
07
Turkey meat production fell to 142,000 tonnes in 2022 from 150,000 in 2021 due to reduced breeding flocks
08
Duck and goose meat output in Great Britain was 38,000 tonnes in 2022, up slightly from 36,500 in 2021
09
Total UK meat production value exceeded £10.5 billion in 2022, with poultry leading at 40%
10
Clean carcass weight for UK lambs averaged 19.5 kg in 2022, down 0.3 kg from 2021 due to lighter carcases
11
UK finished pig slaughterings totalled 4.85 million head in 2022, a 4% drop from prior year
12
Cattle throughput for beef in UK abattoirs was 2.45 million head in 2022, decreasing 3.2%
13
UK poultry sector produced 1.1 billion broilers in 2022, averaging 2.2 kg liveweight
14
Rabbit meat production in the UK was approximately 1,200 tonnes in 2022, niche but stable
15
Game meat production, including venison, reached 25,000 tonnes in 2022 across UK
16
UK prime cattle grades (U and R) accounted for 45% of beef carcases in 2022
17
Pig carcase weights averaged 82.4 kg in 2022, up 0.8 kg year-on-year
18
Lamb carcase classification showed 55% in R and U grades in 2022 UK
19
UK poultry meat yield per bird improved to 75% in 2023 from 74% in 2022
20
Total UK red meat throughput was 10.2 million head in 2022, down 2.5%
Interpretation
Production Interpretation
For the production side of the UK meat industry, poultry is the clear bright spot with 2023 output rising to 1.98 million tonnes while other major categories slipped or stayed flat, such as red meat at 2.16 million tonnes in 2022 down 1.5% and beef and veal at 877,000 tonnes down 4%.
05 · Category
Trade21 stats
01
UK exported £5.1 billion worth of meat in 2022, up 8% from 2021
02
Poultry meat exports from UK totalled 380,000 tonnes in 2022, mainly to EU
03
Beef exports reached 160,000 tonnes in 2022, valued at £1.2 billion
04
Pigmeat exports were 220,000 tonnes in 2022 UK, down 10% due to shortages
05
Lamb exports hit 100,000 tonnes in 2022, 75% to EU markets
06
Top destination for UK meat exports: Philippines at £500 million in 2022
07
UK meat imports totalled £4.8 billion in 2022, 60% from EU
08
Poultry imports into UK were 650,000 tonnes in 2022, mostly frozen
09
Pork imports reached 550,000 tonnes in 2022, up 5%
10
Beef imports were 380,000 tonnes in 2022 UK
11
Sheepmeat net exporter status: exported 45,000 tonnes more than imported in 2022
12
UK-EU meat trade post-Brexit: £2.5 billion exports in 2022
13
Third country meat exports grew 15% to 120,000 tonnes in 2022
14
Value of offal exports from UK meat industry: £300 million in 2022
15
Poultry export value per tonne averaged £2,800 in 2022 UK
16
Import tariffs impacted UK meat imports by £150 million in 2022
17
China approved 20 UK meat exporters in 2022, boosting access
18
US imported £100 million UK beef in 2022 under quota
19
Halal meat exports from UK totalled 50,000 tonnes in 2022
20
Brexit border checks delayed 5% of meat imports in 2022
21
UK meat trade surplus narrowed to £300 million in 2022
Interpretation
Trade Interpretation
In 2022, UK meat trade rebounded with exports worth £5.1 billion, up 8% from 2021, even as pigmeat exports fell 10% to 220,000 tonnes due to shortages.
report visual · Breakdown
What UK consumers buy most
Poultry dominates UK per-capita meat consumption, while processed meat products make up the largest share of total meat consumption.
45%
Processed meat products accounted for 45% of total UK meat consumption in 2022
55%
Lamb carcase classification showed 55% in R and U grades in 2022 UK
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Henrik Dahl. (2026, February 13). Uk Meat Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uk-meat-industry-statistics
MLA
Henrik Dahl. "Uk Meat Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/uk-meat-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Henrik Dahl. 2026. "Uk Meat Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uk-meat-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
20 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level