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Meat Market Size, Share and Forecast 2026-2036

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.

USD 1.1 tnMarket size 2026
USD 1.7 tnForecast 2036
4.0%CAGR 2026-2036
ChinaLargest country

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5 segmentation views25 countries2026 to 2036 yearly forecast

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.

ScopeBeef, pork, mutton and goat meat and processed meat products (sausages, bacon, ham, cured meats), excluding poultry, valued at consumer prices.
IndustryFood and Beverage
Value 2025USD 1.1 tn
Value 2026USD 1.1 tn
Value 2036USD 1.7 tn
CAGR 2026-20364.0%
Volume 2026198,842 thousand tonnes
Volume 2036253,619 thousand tonnes
Average price 2026USD 5,726 per tonne
Report priceStarts from USD 1,999
PublishedNovember 2026

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Meat market size and forecast, 2026-2036

Exhibit 1The global meat market is forecast to grow from USD 1.1 tn in 2026 to USD 1.7 tn by 2036, a rise of 48%Global market value in USD: 2025 base year, 2026 estimate and forecast to 2036. CAGR 2026 to 2036: 4.0%
Meat market value, 2025 to 2036Market value by year. 2025: USD 1,100 bn; 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. Compound annual growth rate 2026 to 2036: 4.0%.20251,138 bn20261,385 bn20311,685 bn20364.0% CAGR

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

YearMarket value
2026USD 1,138 bn
2027USD 1,184 bn
2028USD 1,231 bn
2029USD 1,281 bn
2030USD 1,332 bn
2031USD 1,385 bn
2032USD 1,441 bn
2033USD 1,498 bn
2034USD 1,558 bn
2035USD 1,620 bn
2036USD 1,685 bn

Meat market segmentation

By meat type

Exhibit 2Pork is the largest segment by meat type, with 46.0% of 2026 revenueEstimated share of 2026 global revenue, by meat type
Meat market share by meat type, 2026Share of 2026 revenue by meat type. Pork: 46.0%; Beef and veal: 33.0%; Other red meat: 13.0%; Sheep and goat meat: 8.0%.Pork46.0%Beef and veal33.0%Other red meat13.0%Sheep and goat meat8.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Pork46.0%44.3%USD 524 bn3.6%
Beef and veal33.0%35.0%USD 376 bn4.6%
Sheep and goat meat8.0%8.1%USD 91.1 bn4.1%
Other red meat13.0%12.5%USD 148 bn3.6%

By form

Exhibit 3Fresh and chilled adds the most revenue by form, growing from USD 660 bn in 2026 to USD 945 bn by 2036Estimated revenue in USD by form, 2026 and 2036 forecast
Meat market by form, 2026 and 2036Revenue by form in 2026 and 2036. Fresh and chilled: USD 660 bn in 2026, USD 945 bn in 2036, change +43%; Processed and cured: USD 296 bn in 2026, USD 466 bn in 2036, change +58%; Frozen: USD 182 bn in 2026, USD 274 bn in 2036, change +50%.20262036 forecastChangeFresh and chilled+43%660 bn945 bnProcessed and cured+58%296 bn466 bnFrozen+50%182 bn274 bn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Fresh and chilled58.0%56.1%USD 660 bn3.6%
Processed and cured26.0%27.7%USD 296 bn4.7%
Frozen16.0%16.2%USD 182 bn4.2%

By production system

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Conventional82.0%78.0%USD 934 bn3.5%
Grass-fed and free-range12.0%15.0%USD 137 bn6.3%
Organic6.0%7.0%USD 68.3 bn5.6%

By sales channel

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Supermarkets and hypermarkets50.0%47.0%USD 569 bn3.4%
Butchers and wet markets24.0%22.0%USD 273 bn3.1%
Foodservice20.0%23.0%USD 228 bn5.5%
Online6.0%8.0%USD 68.3 bn7.0%

By packaging

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Fresh unpackaged36.0%32.0%USD 410 bn2.8%
Vacuum and modified atmosphere46.0%48.0%USD 524 bn4.4%
Canned and shelf-stable18.0%20.0%USD 205 bn5.1%

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%.

Exhibit 4China is the largest country market at USD 319 bn in 2026, and the three largest countries hold 49.0% of global revenueEstimated 2026 revenue in USD and share of the global market, ten largest countries
Meat market, ten largest countries in 2026Ten largest countries by 2026 revenue. China: USD 319 bn, 28.0%; United States: USD 171 bn, 15.0%; Brazil: USD 68.3 bn, 6.0%; Russia: USD 45.5 bn, 4.0%; Germany: USD 39.8 bn, 3.5%; India: USD 34.2 bn, 3.0%; Japan: USD 34.2 bn, 3.0%; Mexico: USD 28.5 bn, 2.5%; Argentina: USD 28.5 bn, 2.5%; Vietnam: USD 28.5 bn, 2.5%.China319 bn 28.0%United States171 bn 15.0%Brazil68.3 bn 6.0%Russia45.5 bn 4.0%Germany39.8 bn 3.5%India34.2 bn 3.0%Japan34.2 bn 3.0%Mexico28.5 bn 2.5%Argentina28.5 bn 2.5%Vietnam28.5 bn 2.5%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

#CountryValue 2026Share 2026Value 2036CAGR 2026-36
1ChinaUSD 319 bn28.0%USD 463 bn3.8%
2United StatesUSD 171 bn15.0%USD 236 bn3.3%
3BrazilUSD 68.3 bn6.0%USD 99.4 bn3.8%
4RussiaUSD 45.5 bn4.0%USD 65.7 bn3.7%
5GermanyUSD 39.8 bn3.5%USD 50.6 bn2.4%
6IndiaUSD 34.2 bn3.0%USD 69.1 bn7.3%
7JapanUSD 34.2 bn3.0%USD 45.5 bn2.9%
8MexicoUSD 28.5 bn2.5%USD 43.8 bn4.4%
9ArgentinaUSD 28.5 bn2.5%USD 38.8 bn3.1%
10VietnamUSD 28.5 bn2.5%USD 50.6 bn5.9%
11FranceUSD 28.5 bn2.5%USD 39.6 bn3.4%
12ItalyUSD 28.5 bn2.5%USD 39.6 bn3.4%
13SpainUSD 24.0 bn2.1%USD 33.4 bn3.3%
14United KingdomUSD 20.8 bn1.8%USD 29.0 bn3.4%
15PolandUSD 18.6 bn1.6%USD 26.0 bn3.4%
16CanadaUSD 17.0 bn1.5%USD 23.6 bn3.4%
17South KoreaUSD 15.7 bn1.4%USD 21.9 bn3.4%
18AustraliaUSD 14.7 bn1.3%USD 20.4 bn3.3%
19IndonesiaUSD 13.9 bn1.2%USD 24.6 bn5.9%
20PhilippinesUSD 13.2 bn1.2%USD 23.4 bn5.9%
21TurkeyUSD 12.5 bn1.1%USD 22.2 bn5.9%
22ThailandUSD 12.0 bn1.1%USD 21.4 bn6.0%
23EgyptUSD 11.5 bn1.0%USD 20.6 bn6.0%
24NigeriaUSD 11.2 bn1.0%USD 24.8 bn8.3%
25South AfricaUSD 10.7 bn0.9%USD 15.0 bn3.4%
Rest of worldUSD 88.9 bn7.8%USD 137 bn4.4%
Exhibit 5China and United States account for 38% of the USD 547 bn the market is forecast to add by 2036Forecast revenue added between 2026 and 2036 by country, in USD
Meat market, where the growth to 2036 comes fromRevenue added between 2026 and 2036. Market value 2026: USD 1.1 tn. China: +USD 145 bn; United States: +USD 65.2 bn; India: +USD 34.9 bn; Brazil: +USD 31.1 bn; Vietnam: +USD 22.1 bn; 20 other countries: +USD 201 bn; Rest of world: +USD 48.1 bn. Market value 2036: USD 1.7 tn.Market value 20261.1 tnChina+145 bnUnited States+65.2 bnIndia+34.9 bnBrazil+31.1 bnVietnam+22.1 bn20 other countries+201 bnRest of world+48.1 bnMarket value 20361.7 tn

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.

Read the full research methodology

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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