In 2014, the global meat market increased in volume by 3% as a result of growing demand from emerging markets. India was the leading growth market with meat consumption increasing by 50%.
Greater disposable income in China resulted in a 5% increase in beef and veal consumption, stronger than the 3% increase in demand for traditional pork products.
The latest European Commission Short Term Outlook identifies that the expansion of EU herds is set to boost beef production by 2% in 2015.
In December, the average herd in the EU was up 1% from the previous year. Exports are set to reach 224,000 tonnes in 2015 as a result of increasing exports to the US from Ireland and the re opening of exports to Turkey.
