Prepared or preserved beef and offal market in Europe

Earlier Report Observations

The European market for prepared or preserved beef and offal grew to 327.6 thousand tons in 2019 but then contracted sharply to 257.8 thousand tons in 2020.

A reported drop in per capita beef consumption coincided with a further market decline to 239.0 thousand tons in 2021. The market recovered to 295.4 thousand tons in 2022 as production and import volumes rose, despite broader industry signals of shrinking beef output.

Market volume decreased again to 275.3 thousand tons in 2023, driven by high inflation shifting demand to cheaper meats and the emergence of bluetongue disease affecting cattle herds. Into 2024, factors like continued bluetongue outbreaks, declining cattle populations due to feed costs and environmental rules, and growing consumer interest in plant-based alternatives shaped the market environment.

Production prepared or preserved beef and offal in Europe

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of prepared or preserved beef and offal, 2017-2020

World map of production of prepared or preserved beef and offal, 2017-2020

Europe's production of prepared or preserved beef and offal declined after two years of growth. In 2019, output reached its peak at 318.0 thousand tons, but then fell by 6.9% to 296.2 thousand tons in 2020. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production increased by 4.7%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 1.5%. The most significant year-on-year increase occurred in 2018, when production rose by 11.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Europe in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

After two years of expansion, Europe's production value for prepared or preserved beef and offal contracted. In 2019, it peaked at 2 218 million US dollars, but then decreased by 6.0% to 2 084 million US dollars in 2020. Over the four-year span from 2017 to 2020, the total value grew by 14%, averaging 4.5% per year. The largest annual increase was recorded in 2018, with a jump of 17.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Europe in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports prepared or preserved beef and offal from Europe

Exports in kind, K t

Europe's exports of prepared or preserved beef and offal declined for the second year in a row. In 2018, shipments hit a high of 170.2 thousand tons, but then dropped by 6.7% to 159.0 thousand tons in 2019, followed by a further small decrease of 2.4% to 155.0 thousand tons in 2020. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 4.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of -1.6%. The largest increase during this period was in 2018, up 4.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Europe in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Europe's exports of prepared or preserved beef and offal reached a diverse range of markets. Key buyers included Angola, which accounted for 1.9% of export volumes, Ghana at 1.0%, and Kazakhstan at 0.8%. Together, these three countries made up 3.7% of total exports, with numerous other nations holding smaller but still notable shares.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Europe in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

For the second consecutive year, the value of Europe's prepared or preserved beef and offal exports declined. In 2018, exports reached their highest point at 1 157 million US dollars, but then fell by 4.3% to 1 108 million US dollars in 2019, and decreased slightly further by 1.6% to 1 091 million US dollars in 2020. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value increased by 3.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.3%. The most significant rise was in 2018, up 10.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Europe in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Switzerland and Angola were the top buyers of prepared or preserved beef and offal from Europe in value terms, together representing 2.4% of total exports.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Europe in value, 2017-2020

Imports prepared or preserved beef and offal to Europe

Imports in kind, K t

Europe's imports of prepared or preserved beef and offal saw a sharp drop in 2020, falling by 30.8% to approximately 116.6 thousand tons compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 39.5%, which averages out to an annual decline of 15.4%. The only increase during these years was in 2019, when imports rose by 13.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Europe in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Brazil was the leading supplier of prepared or preserved beef and offal to Europe, accounting for 17.7% of total import volumes.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Europe in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Europe's imports of prepared or preserved beef and offal were valued at 1 002 million US dollars, up 2.0% from 983 million US dollars in 2019. The peak occurred in 2018 at 1 068 million US dollars, followed by an 8.0% decline in 2019. The largest increase was in 2018, rising by 7.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Europe in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Brazil and the United States were the largest sources of prepared or preserved beef and offal imports into Europe in value terms, together making up 18.4% of total imports.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Europe in value, 2017-2020