Published in News
Poultry Rises, Red Meat Falls in the EU
In the European Union, poultry meat is growing fast, while beef, sheep, and goat meat continue to decline.
Martina Osmak
Director of Marketing
Big Picture: What Is Changing?
Meat production in the European Union is slowly shifting. Pig meat is still the biggest part of the market, but poultry meat is becoming more important each year. At the same time, red meats like beef, sheep, and goat are produced in smaller amounts than before.
These trends are shown in new data from Eurostat, which tracks food and farming across Europe.
Pig Meat: Still Number One
Pig meat remains the main meat produced in the EU.
In 2024, pig meat production reached 21.1 million tonnes
This is about half of all EU meat production
Production fell in 2022 and 2023
In 2024, it went up again by 2.2%
Even with this recovery, pig meat production is still well below its highest level, which was reached in 2021. Higher costs, animal disease, and farm closures have all played a role in the earlier decline.
Poultry Meat: Fast Growth Returns
Poultry meat is the clear growth story.
Between 2009 and 2020, poultry production rose strongly. After a short drop in 2021 and 2022, growth returned.
Poultry meat reached 14.1 million tonnes in 2024
Production increased 6% in one year
Output is now more than double that of beef
Many consumers choose poultry because it is cheaper, easy to cook, and often seen as healthier than red meat.
Beef, Sheep, and Goat: Long-Term Decline
Other meats are moving in the opposite direction.
Beef production fell by about 5% since 2009
Sheep meat dropped by over 17%
Goat meat saw the sharpest fall, down nearly 40%
Fewer animals, an ageing farming population, and changing diets have all reduced production in these sectors.
What This Means Going Forward
The EU meat market is not shrinking, but it is changing shape.
Pig meat stays important, but growth is limited
Poultry continues to gain ground
Red meats face ongoing pressure
For farmers, processors, and policymakers, these trends matter. They affect farm income, food prices, and future investment decisions across Europe.