India's Meat Exports Booming, Targets 370M Ton Global Demand by 2030
The global population is set to reach 8.8 billion by 2030, driving up demand for food, including meat. India, the world's second-largest exporter of buffalo meat, is a significant player in this market, with its top five destinations for meat exports in 2021-22 being Vietnam, Malaysia, Egypt, Indonesia, and Iraq, totaling USD 3.3 billion.
India's meat export industry is well-equipped with 89 processing facilities, including 6 approved for exports. Notably, 29 facilities have been approved for beef exports to Indonesia. In 2020, India produced 3,750 thousand tons of bovine meat and exported USD 38.9 million worth of beef and cattle meat. The country's top beef and buffalo meat destinations in 2021 and 2022 were Vietnam, Malaysia, and Egypt.
To cater to the increasing global demand, projected to reach 370 million tons by 2030 with per capita consumption crossing 36kg by 2028, India is seeking to expand its exports. It has requested Indonesia to increase its buffalo meat import quota and allow imports through Medan Port. Mumbai and New Delhi were the top exporting cities in 2022, with approximately 1.1 metric tons of bovine meat exported.
India's meat export industry is poised for growth, driven by global demand and its status as the second-largest exporter of buffalo meat. With strategic expansions and increased approvals for exports, India aims to meet the rising global appetite for meat, with cattle and buffalo meat being the most popular source of protein and nutrients.
