Market overview
The global meat market is worth USD 1.1 tn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 1.7 tn by 2036, growing at a 4.0% CAGR. China is the largest country market and Pork is the largest by meat type segment.
| Scope | Beef, pork, mutton and goat meat and processed meat products (sausages, bacon, ham, cured meats), excluding poultry, valued at consumer prices. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food and Beverage |
| Value 2025 | USD 1.1 tn |
| Value 2026 | USD 1.1 tn |
| Value 2036 | USD 1.7 tn |
| CAGR 2026-2036 | 4.0% |
| Volume 2026 | 198,842 thousand tonnes |
| Volume 2036 | 253,619 thousand tonnes |
| Average price 2026 | USD 5,726 per tonne |
| Report price | Starts from USD 1,999 |
| Published | November 2026 |
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Meat market size and forecast, 2026-2036
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Year | Market value |
|---|---|
| 2026 | USD 1,138 bn |
| 2027 | USD 1,184 bn |
| 2028 | USD 1,231 bn |
| 2029 | USD 1,281 bn |
| 2030 | USD 1,332 bn |
| 2031 | USD 1,385 bn |
| 2032 | USD 1,441 bn |
| 2033 | USD 1,498 bn |
| 2034 | USD 1,558 bn |
| 2035 | USD 1,620 bn |
| 2036 | USD 1,685 bn |
Meat market segmentation
By meat type
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pork | 46.0% | 44.3% | USD 524 bn | 3.6% |
| Beef and veal | 33.0% | 35.0% | USD 376 bn | 4.6% |
| Sheep and goat meat | 8.0% | 8.1% | USD 91.1 bn | 4.1% |
| Other red meat | 13.0% | 12.5% | USD 148 bn | 3.6% |
By form
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh and chilled | 58.0% | 56.1% | USD 660 bn | 3.6% |
| Processed and cured | 26.0% | 27.7% | USD 296 bn | 4.7% |
| Frozen | 16.0% | 16.2% | USD 182 bn | 4.2% |
By production system
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 82.0% | 78.0% | USD 934 bn | 3.5% |
| Grass-fed and free-range | 12.0% | 15.0% | USD 137 bn | 6.3% |
| Organic | 6.0% | 7.0% | USD 68.3 bn | 5.6% |
By sales channel
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supermarkets and hypermarkets | 50.0% | 47.0% | USD 569 bn | 3.4% |
| Butchers and wet markets | 24.0% | 22.0% | USD 273 bn | 3.1% |
| Foodservice | 20.0% | 23.0% | USD 228 bn | 5.5% |
| Online | 6.0% | 8.0% | USD 68.3 bn | 7.0% |
By packaging
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh unpackaged | 36.0% | 32.0% | USD 410 bn | 2.8% |
| Vacuum and modified atmosphere | 46.0% | 48.0% | USD 524 bn | 4.4% |
| Canned and shelf-stable | 18.0% | 20.0% | USD 205 bn | 5.1% |
Top 25 countries for meat by revenue
Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 70.0% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 92.2%.
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| # | Country | Value 2026 | Share 2026 | Value 2036 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | USD 319 bn | 28.0% | USD 463 bn | 3.8% |
| 2 | United States | USD 171 bn | 15.0% | USD 236 bn | 3.3% |
| 3 | Brazil | USD 68.3 bn | 6.0% | USD 99.4 bn | 3.8% |
| 4 | Russia | USD 45.5 bn | 4.0% | USD 65.7 bn | 3.7% |
| 5 | Germany | USD 39.8 bn | 3.5% | USD 50.6 bn | 2.4% |
| 6 | India | USD 34.2 bn | 3.0% | USD 69.1 bn | 7.3% |
| 7 | Japan | USD 34.2 bn | 3.0% | USD 45.5 bn | 2.9% |
| 8 | Mexico | USD 28.5 bn | 2.5% | USD 43.8 bn | 4.4% |
| 9 | Argentina | USD 28.5 bn | 2.5% | USD 38.8 bn | 3.1% |
| 10 | Vietnam | USD 28.5 bn | 2.5% | USD 50.6 bn | 5.9% |
| 11 | France | USD 28.5 bn | 2.5% | USD 39.6 bn | 3.4% |
| 12 | Italy | USD 28.5 bn | 2.5% | USD 39.6 bn | 3.4% |
| 13 | Spain | USD 24.0 bn | 2.1% | USD 33.4 bn | 3.3% |
| 14 | United Kingdom | USD 20.8 bn | 1.8% | USD 29.0 bn | 3.4% |
| 15 | Poland | USD 18.6 bn | 1.6% | USD 26.0 bn | 3.4% |
| 16 | Canada | USD 17.0 bn | 1.5% | USD 23.6 bn | 3.4% |
| 17 | South Korea | USD 15.7 bn | 1.4% | USD 21.9 bn | 3.4% |
| 18 | Australia | USD 14.7 bn | 1.3% | USD 20.4 bn | 3.3% |
| 19 | Indonesia | USD 13.9 bn | 1.2% | USD 24.6 bn | 5.9% |
| 20 | Philippines | USD 13.2 bn | 1.2% | USD 23.4 bn | 5.9% |
| 21 | Turkey | USD 12.5 bn | 1.1% | USD 22.2 bn | 5.9% |
| 22 | Thailand | USD 12.0 bn | 1.1% | USD 21.4 bn | 6.0% |
| 23 | Egypt | USD 11.5 bn | 1.0% | USD 20.6 bn | 6.0% |
| 24 | Nigeria | USD 11.2 bn | 1.0% | USD 24.8 bn | 8.3% |
| 25 | South Africa | USD 10.7 bn | 0.9% | USD 15.0 bn | 3.4% |
| Rest of world | USD 88.9 bn | 7.8% | USD 137 bn | 4.4% |
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
Competitive landscape
Group 1: Global leaders
- JBS
- Tyson Foods
- WH Group
- Cargill
- Danish Crown
- Marfrig
- Smithfield Foods
Group 2: Regional and specialist players
- Vion Food Group
- Hormel Foods
- NH Foods
- Toennies Group
- Minerva Foods
- National Beef
- Teys Australia
- Dawn Meats
- OSI Group
- Yurun Group
Group 3: Emerging and niche players
- ButcherBox
- Crowd Cow
- Creekstone Farms
- Niman Ranch
Research methodology
Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the meat market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.
The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 4.0% is calculated from the resulting values.
The market is divided by meat type, by form, by production system, by sales channel, by packaging. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.
Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.
Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the meat market?
The global meat market is estimated at USD 1.1 tn in 2025 and USD 1.1 tn in 2026.
How fast will the meat market grow?
It is forecast to reach USD 1.7 tn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 4.0% from 2026, an increase of USD 547 bn.
Which country is the largest market for meat?
China is the largest market by revenue at USD 319 bn in 2026, 28.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 49.0%.
Which country is growing fastest?
Among the ten largest markets, India is growing fastest at 7.3% a year from 2026 to 2036.
Which meat segment is largest?
In the by meat type split, Pork is the largest segment with 46.0% of 2026 revenue.
Who are the leading meat companies?
Global leaders include JBS, Tyson Foods, WH Group, Cargill.
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