Sector Trend Analysis – Meat trends in Italy

Italy's meat production

For market year 2022, Italy's meat production (pork, chicken, beef) totaled 2.99 million tonnes, with pork accounting for 1,254,950 tonnes, chicken for 993,950 tonnes and beef for 747,210 tonnes. Chicken production saw steady growth at a CAGR of 0.5% from 2018 to 2022 while pork and beef declined at a CAGR of −4.2% and −2.0% respectively.

Italy's trade summary

Of the top ten meat suppliers to Italy by value, Canada was ranked as 30th largest (valued at US$4.1 million in 2023) and accounted for 0.1% of the global market share to Italy in 2023. Germany was the largest supplier at US$1,464.5 million in 2023. The 2nd largest supplier was Spain, with exports valued at US$1,263.2 million in 2023. Due to the strong demand for meat, all the top 10 countries exporting meat to Italy had a steady CAGR from 2019 to 2023, ranging from 16.7% (Spain) to as low as 0.9% (Brazil).

Of the top 10 meat suppliers to Italy by volume, Canada also ranked as 38th largest in 2023, exporting 0.2 thousand tonnes and accounting for 0.01% of the total world exports (1,679.6 thousand tonnes). Canada remained at a CAGR of 0.0% from 2019 to 2023, while Argentina reached the highest CAGR of 9.8%, among the top 10 suppliers.

Among the top 10 meat the world exported to Italy in 2023, fresh or chilled hams, shoulders and cuts thereof of swine, with bone in was the largest, reaching US$1,581.8 million, followed by fresh or chilled bovine cuts, with bone in, reaching US$1,209.8 million and fresh or chilled meat of swine, reaching US$909.8 million. Overall, the growth of the total meat from 2019 to 2023 was a CAGR 7.1%.

Among the top 10 meat that the world exported to Italy in 2023, fresh or chilled hams, shoulders and cuts thereof of swine, with bone in was the largest, reaching 527.7 thousand tonnes, followed by fresh or chilled meat of swine, reaching 234.8 thousand tonnes and fresh or chilled bovine cuts, with bone in, reaching 182.1 thousand tonnes. Overall, the total meat export growth from 2019 to 2023 was a CAGR 1.0%.

In 2023, Canada's top meat exports to Italy were fresh or chilled bovine, boneless at US$3,683.5 thousand, followed by fresh or chilled bovine cuts, with bone in at US$325.7 thousand and fresh or chilled edible offal of bovine at US$113.9 thousand which had the highest CAGR of 128.3% from 2019 to 2023. Compared with 2022, the export of meat to Italy in 2023 decreased at −17.0% in value.

In terms of trade volume, Canada's top exports in 2023 were fresh or chilled bovine meat, boneless at 218,347 kilograms, and fresh or chilled bovine cuts, with bone in at 17,866 kilograms and fresh or chilled edible offal of bovine at 7,011 kilograms. Fresh or chilled bovine meat, boneless had the highest CAGR of 32.4% from 2019 to 2023. Compared with 2022, the export of meat to Italy in 2023 dropped −63.8% in volume.

In terms of export value broken down by Canadian province, Alberta led with a value of US$6.7 million in 2023, which accounted for 99.0% of Canada's total meat exports to Italy. Ontario ranked second, exporting US$66,726.1 in 2023.

In terms of export volume by province, Alberta exported 450,495 kilograms of meat to Italy in 2023, followed by Ontario at 25,912 kilograms. Alberta registered the highest CAGR of 29.4% from 2019 to 2023.

Italy did not import any pork from Canada in 2022 and 2023. The CAGR was decreasing at −27.3% from 2019 to 2021.

In terms of the volume, Italy did not import any pork from Canada in 2022 and 2023. The CAGR was decreasing at −68.5% from 2019 to 2021.

From 2022 to 2023, Canada's beef and products export decreased in value by −17.0%, from US$4,972.7 thousand in 2022 to US$4,129.2 thousand in 2023 while the CAGR was increasing at 38.6% from 2019 to 2023.

Top three were fresh or chilled bovine, boneless (US$3,683.5 thousand), fresh or chilled bovine cuts with bone in (US$325.7 thousand) and fresh or chilled edible offal of bovine (US$113.9 thousand) in 2023.

From 2022 to 2023, Canada's beef and products export decreased in volume by −63.8%, from 673,405 kilograms in 2022 to 243,639 in 2023 while the CAGR was increasing at 32.0% from 2019 to 2023.

Top three were fresh or chilled bovine boneless (218,347 kilograms), fresh or chilled bovine cuts, with bone in (17,866 kilograms) and fresh or chilled edible offal of bovine (7,011 kilograms) in 2023.

Consumption and spending

1) Market size

In recent years, the meat category in Italy has been going through an uncertain phase, especially regarding supply. Several factors, such as high breeding costs and feed shortages, are negatively affecting the development of the meat category. Breeding costs have increased due to high feed prices and general expenses related to facilities and animal care. This has made it difficult for many breeders to maintain profitability and has led some of them to reduce the number of livestock raised (Euromonitor 2024)

Following a 2022 that was characterised by a decline in meat consumption in retail volume terms, the last year of the review period saw the general market start to grow again, albeit extremely modestly. This growth was driven mainly by poultry and pork. Beef and veal, on the other hand, continued to show a decline in volume terms. The main reasons for this trend are both the desire of many people to reduce their consumption of red meat and the fact that pork and poultry are less expensive per kilo than other meats (Euromonitor 2024)

The total volume of sales of meat in Italy reached 2.8 million tonnes in 2023. Poultry accounted for the largest volume of meat sold in Italy in 2023 at 1.3 million tonnes (47.5% of the total meat sales), followed by beef and veal at 716.8 thousand tonnes and pork at 663.7 thousand tonnes. Meat sales increased at 1.3% from 2019 to 2023. Poultry and pork had the largest CAGR of 2.1% from 2019 to 2023. It is forecast that by 2028 total meat sales in Italy will reach 2.9 million tonnes. Poultry is projected to have a CAGR of 1.4%, followed by other meat at 0.9% from 2023 to 2028.

Per capita consumption of meat by Italy consumers was 47.0 kilograms (kg) in 2023, up from 44.1 kg in 2019, and it is projected to reach 48.8 kg by 2028. The meat had positive growth at a CAGR of 1.6% from 2019 to 2023. Pork had the biggest growth at 2.6% while other meat decreased at −5.4% from 2019 to 2023.

2) Retail sales value

The value of Italy meat sector increased from US$26.2 billion in 2019 to US$32.6 billion in 2023, registering a CAGR of 5.6% from 2019 to 2023. The sector is expected to reach US$38.5 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 3.4% from 2023 to 2028.

Italy people spend most money on beef and veal at US$239.9 per capita in 2023, followed by poultry at US$216.0 and pork at US$71.9.

3) Leading companies and brands in Italian processed meat sector

Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma (US$935.2 million in 2023), Veronesi Holding SpA (US$836.5 million in 2023) and Azienda Agricola Flli Amadori (US$645.6 million in 2023) are the leading companies in the Italy processed meat sector. The CAGR growth for Azienda Agricola Flli Amadori was 7.1% from 2019 to 2023.

Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma recorded 7.2% share in 2023, Veronesi Holding SpA recorded 6.4% share while Azienda Agricola Flli Amadori recorded 5.0% share in 2023 and had the biggest growth at a CAGR of 1.6% from 2019 to 2023.

The top three brands in Italy's processed meat sector in 2023 were Parma (US$935.2 million), AIA (US$638.1 million) and Amadori (US$630.4 million), which registered the highest market share growth at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2019 to 2023.

The top three brands in Italy's processed meat sector in 2023 were Parma (7.2%). AIA (4.9%) and Amadori (4.8%), which registered the highest market share growth at a CAGR of 1.1% from 2019 to 2023.

Opportunities for Canada

Trade relations

Canada and Italy have a strong commercial relationship. The relationship's greatest potential lies in two-way investment as well as in innovation and technology-based partnerships. Canada-Italy trade is underpinned by the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which has been provisionally applied since September 21, 2017.

In 2023, two-way goods and services trade between Canada and Italy totaled $15.3 billion. Cereals, pharmaceutical products, and aircraft and parts rank among the top 3 products Canada exported to Italy in 2023.

Related links

• Trade and investment agreements
• Import / Export controls
• Doing business in Italy
• Canada-Italy relations, Government of Canada, 2024

For more information

The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service:

International Trade Commissioners can provide Canadian industry with on-the-ground expertise regarding market potential, current conditions and local business contacts, and are an excellent point of contact for export advice.

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For additional information on SIAL Paris 2024 please contact:

Ben Berry, Deputy Director
Trade Show Strategy and Delivery
Agriculture and agri-food Canada
ben.berry@agr.gc.ca

Resources

• Canada-Italy relations, Government of Canada, 2024
• Euromonitor International, 2024
• Euromonitor, Country Report, Meat in Italy, January 2024
• FAOSTAT (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) 2023
• Global Trade Tracker, 2024

Sector Trend Analysis – Meat trends in Italy
Global Analysis Report

Prepared by: Hongli Wang, Market Analyst

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