Spain's meat industry has become the country's leading agri-food industry

The Minister of Agriculture of Spain opened the MEAT Industry Forum, created by six interprofessional organizations of the sector (ASICI, AVIANZA, INTEROVIC, INTERCUN, INTERPORC and PROVACUNO), where he emphasized that the meat industry is the leading agri-food sector in the country.

In Spain, the meat industry, with 3554 companies located mainly in rural areas, generates a turnover of 31.7 billion euros, which is 25% of the Spanish food sector and 2.5% of GDP. The industry directly employs 110,413 workers, i.e. 25% of the total employment in the food industry in Spain.

In 2021, Spanish exports of meat and meat products amounted to 8.8 billion euros (an increase of 4.4% compared to the previous year); representing 14.6% of total Spanish agri-food exports.

At the European level, animal husbandry in Spain is one of the most important. In 2020, production reached nearly 11 million tonnes, with the pork sector accounting for 42% of final livestock production, followed by poultry production. At Community level, Spain is the leader in the production of mutton (27% of the total production), the second in the production of pork (almost 22% of the total production); second place is also in poultry meat (13%), second only to Poland, and third place in beef (10%) after Germany and France.