Production of poultry meat reached a new record high in 2024, surpassing 10 thousand tonnes for the first time. Pork production totalled 6,756 tonnes, making it the fourth highest production year on record. Beef production saw a slight decline but has remained above 4,800 tonnes for the past four years. Since 2008, beef production has shown near continuous growth.
Sheep meat production reached a historic low, having been lower only once in the past 40 years, in 1997. The number of slaughtered sheep totaled 447 thousand, the lowest recorded since 1954, when it stood at 321 thousand heads. Despite the decline in number of slaughtered sheep, the average carcass weight (amount of meat) from each sheep has increased by 22% over the same period.
Second lowest export of sheep meat sinve 2008
Export of sheep meat was 2,048 tonnes, slightly higher than in 2023, but still the second lowest amount since 2008. Additionally, 331 tonnes of horse meat was exported in 2024.
A record amount of imported beef
Meat imports were slightly lower than in 2023 when it was at all time high. A record amount of beef was imported in 2024, totalling 1.356 tonnes. Poultry meat imports reached 1,877 tonnes, while pork imports stood at 1,527 tonnes. Furthermore, 20 tonnes of sheep meat were imported, the second highest volume recorded, following 2019 when imports amounted to 39 tonnes.
The largest increase in pork production in December
Total meat production in December 2024 was 1,750 tonnes, a 3% increase compared with December 2023. The largest increase was in pork production, which grew by 14%, followed by poultry production, which grew by 5%. Meanwhile, beef production decreased by 6% compared with December 2023.