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U.S. - Meat - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights
Report Update: Jun 1, 2025

U.S. - Meat - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights

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Jul 5, 2022

US Organic Meat Market: Slaughterhouses are Needed

The increase in demand for organic meat means more slaughterhouses are needed, FoodTank says.

As COVID-19 spread all over the country, a meat shortage emerged. The shortages weren't from a lack of animals. The pandemic spread quickly in large slaughterhouses that were shuttered because of overcrowding and lack of space. Farmers and ranchers suddenly had nowhere to send their livestock, which left grocery store shelves empty. Meanwhile, the mature animals were killed and buried in fields.

Like many of COVID-19's effects on society, the slaughterhouse shortage was an imminent disaster. Small-scale meat producers were having trouble accessing processing facilities for a long time before COVID-19. The meat processing bottleneck is an issue that has been discussed for decades and small scale producers have been feeling it more because they don't have the same access, a new report by IndexBox shows.

As there is increasing demand for ethically-grown meats and the people who provide them, it is important to support those farmers. Many livestock producers have smaller farms that adhere to organic practices, which often means a greater emphasis on animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and food freshness. Small processors can also provide meat locally and help generate revenue. Consumers are increasingly aware of the many benefits they provide and there has been an increase in buyer demand for products of this nature.

Individuals process less meat than large companies, which can pose a problem when it comes to competition. Smaller scale companies are often overlooked by regulations and need to face financial, labor and regulatory hurdles in order to compete with larger scale facilities. Large-scale facilities slaughter a majority of the meat processed in our food supply because they have the economies of scale that small-scale companies do not. Poor regulation can also lead to more consolidation among large scale facilities.

As a result of changes in the law, small scale and certified organic farmers who slaughter their own livestock are finding it hard to have access to places that can accommodate them. Right now, most farmers have to wait for at least six months before being able to do this and even then, there may not be any available slots available meaning they have to travel quite far too. However, this is troublesome for the animals because they can suffer during these long journeys which are expensive, take up a lot of their time and also puts a strain on the environment. And with organic farmers taking such care in how the animals are treated, this will also affect how well the meat is produced overall.

Organic farmers face challenges in marketing their organic meats due to the National Organic Program's strict standards. Even if they meet organic requirements, they are not certified as organic by processing facilities and thus can't use the USDA seal or label their meat as organic even though it meets standards. This poses a problem for these farmers at a time when this type of meat is growing in popularity.

The US government is putting legislation in place to reduce the process of slaughterhouses. With the Strengthening Local Processing Act, it provides funds to facilities that employ 500 workers or fewer, as well as a scale-appropriate approach. Officials from established organizations endorse the bill including National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, American Association of Meat Processors, Niche Meat Processors Assistance Network and National Farmers Union. To make sure the legislation will be passed officials have to hear from the public and make contact with members of congress and express their support for this bill.

Consumers can buy locally grown, organic meat and support the local economy. Farmers' markets often sell products from nearby producers, as well as organic produce. Some farmers offer herd shares so that consumers can purchase a local animal, pay to care for it, and collect the meat when it is harvested.

The meat industry can strengthen the future viability of our food supply by supporting small and organic producers. How much we spend on meat, what we purchase and where it comes from can all affect the resilience of our system.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the meat market in the U.S.. Within it, you will discover the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast exhibits the market prospects through 2030.

Product coverage:

  • FCL 1108 - Meat of asses
  • FCL 947 - Buffalo meat
  • FCL 1127 - Meat of camels
  • FCL 867 - Meat of cattle
  • FCL 870 - Meat of cattle, boneless
  • FCL 1017 - Goat meat
  • FCL 1097 - Horse meat
  • FCL 1111 - Meat of mules
  • FCL 1158 - Meat of other domestic camelids
  • FCL 1151 - Meat of other domestic rodents
  • FCL 1035 - Pig meat
  • FCL 1141 - Rabbit meat
  • FCL 977 - Meat of sheep

Country coverage:

Data coverage:

  • Market volume and value
  • Per Capita consumption
  • Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term
  • Trade (exports and imports) in the U.S.
  • Export and import prices
  • Market trends, drivers and restraints
  • Key market players and their profiles

Reasons to buy this report:

  • Take advantage of the latest data
  • Find deeper insights into current market developments
  • Discover vital success factors affecting the market

This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.

In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:

  1. How to diversify your business and benefit from new market opportunities
  2. How to load your idle production capacity
  3. How to boost your sales on overseas markets
  4. How to increase your profit margins
  5. How to make your supply chain more sustainable
  6. How to reduce your production and supply chain costs
  7. How to outsource production to other countries
  8. How to prepare your business for global expansion

While doing this research, we combine the accumulated expertise of our analysts and the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The AI-based platform, developed by our data scientists, constitutes the key working tool for business analysts, empowering them to discover deep insights and ideas from the marketing data.

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS

  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO

  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. MARKET STRUCTURE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    3. TRADE BALANCE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    4. PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    5. MARKET FORECAST TO 2035

  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORTS

  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
    3. COUNTRIES WITH TOP YIELDS
    4. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    5. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES

  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

    Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export

    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS

  7. 7. PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)

  8. 8. IMPORTS

    The Largest Import Supplying Countries

    1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)

  9. 9. EXPORTS

    The Largest Destinations for Exports

    1. EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)

  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

  11. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2024
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    4. Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    5. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012-2024
    6. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012-2024
    7. Import Prices, By Country, 2012-2024
    8. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012-2024
    9. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012-2024
    10. Exports Prices, By Country, 2012-2024

  12. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    3. Market Structure – Domestic Supply Vs. Imports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    4. Market Structure – Domestic Supply Vs. Imports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    5. Trade Balance, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    6. Trade Balance, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    7. Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    8. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
    9. Market Value Forecast to 2035
    10. Market Size and Growth, by Product
    11. Average Per Capita Consumption, by Product
    12. Exports and Growth, by Product
    13. Export Prices and Growth, by Product
    14. Production Volume and Growth
    15. Yield and Growth
    16. Exports and Growth
    17. Export Prices and Growth
    18. Market Size and Growth
    19. Per Capita Consumption
    20. Imports and Growth
    21. Import Prices
    22. Production, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    23. Production, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    24. Producing Animals: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    25. Yield: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    26. Imports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    27. Imports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    28. Imports, in Physical Terms, by Country, 2024
    29. Imports, in Physical Terms, by Country, 2012-2024
    30. Imports, in Value Terms, by Country, 2012-2024
    31. Import Prices, by Country, 2012-2024
    32. Exports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    33. Exports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    34. Exports, in Physical Terms, by Country, 2024
    35. Exports, in Physical Terms, by Country, 2012-2024
    36. Exports, in Value Terms, by Country, 2012-2024
    37. Export Prices, by Country, 2012-2024

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