Meat Consumption

IBISWorld expects meat consumption to fall by 0.8% during 2023-24 to 103.4 kilograms per capita. Rising health consciousness and the increasing uptake of veganism are expected to boost demand for plant-based alternatives, constraining overall meat consumption. However, domestic meat production is expected to rise during the year and the prices of beef, poultry, lamb and pig meat are anticipated to fall, weighing on the fall in meat consumption.

Consumer meat preferences have changed over the past two decades. Traditionally, beef accounted for most meat consumed by Australians. However, in 2001-02, per capita consumption of chicken meat exceeded beef and veal consumption for the first time. The considerably lower price and versatility of chicken meat in cooking have helped boost chicken meat consumption over the past decade, with consumption expected to reach 49.9 kilograms per capita during 2023-24. Conversely, per capita beef and veal consumption has continued to decrease over the period to a projected 21.2 kilograms per capita in 2023-24. Lamb and mutton consumption has increased over the past five years. However, they remain the least consumed traditional meats by Australians. Mutton consumption in Australia is minimal. Pork consumption has fallen over the past five years, with consumption expected to reach 25.5 kilograms per capita in the current year.