In 2024, total EU pork production amounted to 21.1 million tonnes, accounting for around half of all meat produced in the bloc. Poultry meat production reached 14.1 million tonnes, more than double the volume of bovine meat, which stood at 6.6 million tonnes. Sheep and goat meat production remained much smaller, at 370,000 tonnes and 37,000 tonnes, respectively.
Eurostat notes that between 2009 and 2021, EU pork production increased relatively steadily, rising by 12.2% overall despite a decline in pig numbers. However, the sector contracted by 5.7% in 2022 and a further 6.5% in 2023. In 2024, production partially recovered, increasing by 2.2%, but still remained 2.3 million tonnes below the 2021 peak.
Meanwhile, poultry meat continues to follow a long-term upward trend. Between 2009 and 2020, EU poultry production grew by an estimated 33.3%. After a temporary decline in 2021–2022, growth resumed: output rose by 2.3% in 2023 and accelerated to +6% in 2024.
At the same time, overall production of “red meat” in the EU has been declining. Over the 2009–2024 period, bovine meat output fell by 5.1%, while sheep meat production dropped by 17.2% and goat meat by 38.3%.
Eurostat emphasises that these trends reflect a structural transformation of the EU meat sector, with poultry strengthening its position while traditional red meat sectors gradually lose share in overall production.
PigUA.info based on materials from thepigsite.com