Prepared or preserved beef and offal market in Southern Europe, 2026

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for prepared or preserved beef and offal in Southern Europe contracted from 14.8 thousand tons in 2018 to 9.2 thousand tons in 2020. This decline was driven by a structural production deficit in the national beef herd and reduced livestock numbers, compounded by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The pandemic triggered an economic crisis that shifted part of consumer demand toward more affordable protein options, while simultaneously disrupting supply chains and increasing energy costs for feed production.

Market volume continued to fall to a low of 7.2 thousand tons in 2021, even as physical output of prepared beef rose. This paradox was largely due to persistently high production costs, particularly for animal feed and energy, which raised final product prices and dampened overall consumption. A sharp rebound to 10.1 thousand tons occurred in 2022, fueled by global supply chain tensions following the war in Ukraine, which spiked grain prices and intensified consumer interest in locally sourced and quality-certified meat products, including prepared variants.

In 2023, the market volume receded to 9.6 thousand tons. This contraction was primarily due to sustained high input costs and broader macroeconomic inflation, which constrained household spending. Concurrently, consumer preferences continued to evolve, with growing demand for certified, sustainable, and traceable products providing some support to the market's value dimension despite the volume decrease.

Production prepared or preserved beef and offal in Southern Europe

In kind, 2017-2020, 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

Production of prepared or preserved beef and offal in Southern Europe fell for the second year in a row. In 2020, output reached 9 011 tonnes, marking a 5.7% decrease from 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production dropped by 5.5%, with an average annual decline of 1.9%. The highest production level was in 2018 at 10 256 tonnes, which saw a 7.6% increase from the previous year. The sharpest decline occurred in 2019, with a 6.8% drop.

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

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In 2020, the value of prepared or preserved beef and offal production in Southern Europe was 43 265 thousand US dollars, up 2.1% from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, production value rose by 21.9%, averaging 6.8% growth per year. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 46 582 thousand US dollars, which represented a 31.2% increase from 2017. The largest decrease was in 2019, with a 9.0% fall.

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

Exports prepared or preserved beef and offal from Southern Europe

Exports in kind, t

Exports of prepared or preserved beef and offal from Southern Europe declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, export volumes stood at 17 126 tonnes, a 1.5% drop compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 3.6%, equivalent to an annualized decline of 1.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, exports of prepared or preserved beef and offal from Southern Europe were not heavily concentrated in a few key markets. Angola accounted for 21.9% of export volumes, Cuba for 8.4%, and Germany for 6.9%, with these three countries together making up just 37.2% of total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, the value of prepared or preserved beef and offal exports from Southern Europe was 82.2 million US dollars, rising 6.6% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value increased by 24.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 7.5%. The largest decline was in 2019, with a 2.4% decrease, while the biggest increase was in 2018, at 19.4%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the country structure of export values remained highly diversified. Angola represented 13.0% of export value, Germany 11.5%, and France 7.0%, together accounting for only 31.5% of total flows. The remaining 68.5% was spread across a long tail of smaller markets.

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

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

Imports prepared or preserved beef and offal to Southern Europe

Imports in kind, t

Imports of prepared or preserved beef and offal into Southern Europe fell for the second year in a row. In 2020, import volumes amounted to 17 283 tonnes, a 16.2% decrease from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports dropped by 15.3%, averaging a 5.4% annual decline. The highest volume was in 2018 at 21 921 tonnes, which saw a 7.4% increase from 2017.

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

The market base for import volumes from 2017 to 2020 was broad. Brazil accounted for 15.5% of import volumes, France for 15.4%, and Germany for 13.0%, with these three countries together making up just 43.9% of total flows. The remaining 56.1% was shared among numerous other countries.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, the value of prepared or preserved beef and offal imports into Southern Europe reached 118.3 million US dollars, up 8.7% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value increased by 18.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 5.9%. The largest decline was in 2019, with a 6.1% decrease, while the biggest increase was in 2018, at 16.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Brazil, Germany, and France stood out as the main sources for import value. Brazil accounted for 24.0% of import value, Germany for 14.0%, and France for 13.9%, together representing 51.9% of total flows.

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

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