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Beef market in the UK - statistics & facts

Taking center stage in many classic British dishes such as beef wellington, a sunday roast, and cottage pie, beef is a staple food item for consumers in the UK. In 2022 alone, beef manufacturing in the UK generated approximately 10.2 billion British pounds. This figure has seen continuous growth in recent years. Globally, the United States and Brazil are the top producers of beef. It was estimated that the United States produced over 12.2 million metric tons in 2023.

Beef production and trade in the UK

The production value of UK beef reached an all-time high in 2022, where it had doubled compared to values in the mid 2,000s. However, the population of cattle and calves in the United Kingdom has slowly been decreasing since 2015 and was at approximately 9.42 million in 2022. That year only around three percent of the cattle population in the UK was classed as organic. The export value of beef has fluctuated in recent years, yet hit a new high of around 542 million British pounds in the most recent year. Ireland was, by far, the primary destination of UK beef exports followed by France and the Netherlands.

Consumption of beef in the UK

In recent years, mincemeat, also known as ground beef, has been the beef cut of choice in the UK, and has the lowest retail sales price amongst beef cuts. However, mince is also the cut that has experienced the biggest price increase recently. As of February 2024, the price of one kilogram of minced beef had increased by over 16 percent compared to the previous year. If this upward trend continues, mince may gradually begin to lose its budget-friendly image. Perhaps due to both cost increases and diet trends, the average weekly expenditure per person on beef products has decreased overall. According to Statista Consumer Insights, a fair share of consumers are following a vegetarian diet and eliminating meat consumption all together, in preference for plant-based options. Younger generations in the UK are more likely to follow a vegetarian diet compared to those of other age groups. Despite everything, the beef industry in the UK is still booming.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Emma Bedford, Mar 19, 2024

Key insights

Production value of beef and veal in the UK
3.76bn GBP
Cattle livestock population in the UK
9.42m head
UK organic cattle population
298,600 head
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Global beef and veal leading producing countries 2022 & 2023

Average retail price of beef in the United Kingdom (UK) as of February 2024, by type (in GBP per kilogram)

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Average retail price of beef in the UK 2023/24

Number of cattle and calves on agricultural holdings in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2005 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

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Cattle and calf livestock population in the United Kingdom (UK) 2005-2022

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