Europe: Rabbit Meat Market 2025

Rabbit Meat Market Size in Europe

The Europe rabbit meat market contracted slightly to $X in 2022, declining by -1.8% against the previous year. Overall, consumption, however, recorded a noticeable curtailment. Over the period under review, the market reached the maximum level at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Rabbit Meat Production in Europe

In value terms, rabbit meat production declined modestly to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. In general, production showed a pronounced reduction. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 when the production volume increased by 25% against the previous year. Over the period under review, production attained the maximum level at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, production remained at a lower figure.

The countries with the highest volumes of production in 2022 were Spain (X tons), the Czech Republic (X tons) and France (X tons), with a combined 59% share of total production. Italy, Russia, Ukraine and Hungary lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 31%.

From 2012 to 2022, the biggest increases were recorded for Russia (with a CAGR of +1.6%), while production for the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the production figures.

In 2022, the average rabbit meat yield in Europe fell slightly to X kg per head, waning by -4.3% on 2021 figures. Over the period under review, the yield saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2021 with an increase of 9.3% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the rabbit meat yield attained the peak level at X kg per head in 2016; however, from 2017 to 2022, the yield stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In 2022, the number of animals slaughtered for rabbit meat production in Europe totaled X heads, increasing by 4.4% compared with the year before. Overall, the number of producing animals, however, saw a perceptible setback. The level of producing animals peaked at X heads in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, producing animals stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Rabbit Meat Exports

Exports in Europe

In 2022, after three years of growth, there was significant decline in overseas shipments of rabbit or hare meat, when their volume decreased by -18.5% to X tons. In general, exports showed a mild slump. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 when exports increased by 16% against the previous year. The volume of export peaked at X tons in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2022, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, rabbit meat exports dropped rapidly to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, exports showed a perceptible downturn. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2021 with an increase of 14%. Over the period under review, the exports attained the maximum at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Exports by Country

In 2022, Spain (X tons), distantly followed by Hungary (X tons), France (X tons), Belgium (X tons), Italy (X tons) and the Netherlands (X tons) were the main exporters of rabbit or hare meat, together achieving 92% of total exports. Poland (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2022, the biggest increases were recorded for Poland (with a CAGR of +51.8%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest rabbit meat supplying countries in Europe were Spain ($X), Hungary ($X) and France ($X), together accounting for 69% of total exports. Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 26%.

Poland, with a CAGR of +52.4%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, in terms of the main exporting countries over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the exports figures.

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the export price in Europe amounted to $X per ton, growing by 1.8% against the previous year. In general, the export price, however, recorded a slight decrease. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when the export price increased by 19%. Over the period under review, the export prices attained the peak figure at $X per ton in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, the export prices failed to regain momentum.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Belgium ($X per ton), while Italy ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Belgium (+3.6%), while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the export price figures.

Rabbit Meat Imports

Imports in Europe

In 2022, imports of rabbit or hare meat in Europe declined to X tons, waning by -10.4% on 2021. Over the period under review, imports recorded a noticeable contraction. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 with an increase of 7.9% against the previous year. As a result, imports attained the peak of X tons. From 2015 to 2022, the growth of imports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, rabbit meat imports shrank to $X in 2022. Overall, imports saw a noticeable contraction. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2013 when imports increased by 13%. Over the period under review, imports attained the peak figure at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2022, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Imports by Country

In 2022, Germany (X tons), distantly followed by Spain (X tons), Belgium (X tons), Portugal (X tons), Italy (X tons), the Czech Republic (X tons) and France (X tons) were the key importers of rabbit or hare meat, together achieving 75% of total imports. Poland (X tons), the Netherlands (X tons), Switzerland (X tons), the UK (X tons), Bulgaria (X tons) and Slovakia (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

Germany experienced a relatively flat trend pattern with regard to volume of imports of rabbit or hare meat. At the same time, Poland (+48.4%), Bulgaria (+21.5%), Slovakia (+15.6%), Spain (+11.4%), the UK (+5.5%) and the Czech Republic (+4.8%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Poland emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in Europe, with a CAGR of +48.4% from 2012-2022. By contrast, Portugal (-2.9%), Italy (-7.0%), Switzerland (-7.5%), Belgium (-8.8%), the Netherlands (-9.8%) and France (-12.0%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Spain (+8.8 p.p.), Germany (+7.9 p.p.), Poland (+4.4 p.p.), the Czech Republic (+3.5 p.p.), Bulgaria (+1.8 p.p.) and the UK (+1.6 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2022, the share of the Netherlands (-3 p.p.), Italy (-3.5 p.p.), Belgium (-6.6 p.p.) and France (-7 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Germany ($X) constitutes the largest market for imported rabbit or hare meat in Europe, comprising 25% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was held by Belgium ($X), with a 9.2% share of total imports. It was followed by Italy, with a 9.2% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value in Germany was relatively modest. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Belgium (-7.9% per year) and Italy (-3.9% per year).

Import Prices by Country

The import price in Europe stood at $X per ton in 2022, remaining relatively unchanged against the previous year. Over the last decade, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.1%. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2018 an increase of 9.4%. The level of import peaked at $X per ton in 2021, and then fell slightly in the following year.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2022, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Switzerland ($X per ton), while Spain ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Italy (+3.4%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform