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Meat Processing in the US Industry Data and Analysis
In recent years, the US Meat, Beef and Poultry Processing industry has shown remarkable resilience and adaptability in response to changing consumer preferences and technological advancements. The sector has effectively managed challenges like fluctuating raw material costs and regulatory changes while capitalizing on the rising demand for processed and convenience foods. Processors have increasingly turned to technological innovations like automation and robotics to enhance production capabilities and maintain product consistency. These advancements have improved operational efficiency and addressed food safety and quality concerns, thereby boosting consumer confidence in processed meat products. Over the past five years, revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.5% to $346.4 billion, despite an expected 0.9% drop in 2025. Profit is expected to rise to 6.5% of revenue in 2025 from 5.4% in 2020.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Meat Processing industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released January 2026.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Meat Processing industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code 31161. Operators in this industry slaughter animals, process the carcasses and package the meat into products and byproducts. The industry also purifies and refines animal fat, bones and meat scraps. Products are sold to other food manufacturers, renderers, grocery and meat wholesalers and retail traders. Enterprises that mainly cut and pack meats from purchased carcasses are also included in this industry. Related terms covered in the Meat Processing industry in the United States include bird flu, porcine epidemic diarrhea (ped) virus, mutton and wholesale bypass.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Meat Processing industry in the United States include Slaughtered animal products (except poultry), Poultry and Processed meats.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Meat Processing industry in the United States include JBS USA Holdings, Tyson Foods, Inc. and Cargill, Incorporated.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Meat Processing industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed product and service segmentation, analysis of major markets and international trade data for the for the Meat Processing industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Meat Processing industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Meat Processing industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Meat Processing industry in the United States. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Meat Processing industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Meat Processing industry in the United States. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Meat Processing industry in the United States.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Meat Processing industry in the United States in 2026?
The market size of the Meat Processing industry in the United States is $294.6bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Meat Processing industry in the United States in 2026?
There are 6,129 businesses in the Meat Processing industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.3 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Meat Processing industry in the United States?
The Meat Processing industry in the United States is likely to be impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Meat Processing industry in the United States?
The Meat Processing industry in the United States is likely to be impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
Has the Meat Processing industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Meat Processing industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Meat Processing industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Meat Processing industry in the United States is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Meat Processing industry in the United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Meat Processing industry in the United States are JBS USA Holdings, Tyson Foods, Inc. and Cargill, Incorporated
What does the Meat Processing industry in the United States include?
Beef, pork and mutton processing and Poultry meat processing are part of the Meat Processing industry in the United States.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Meat Processing industry in the United States?
The company holding the most market share in the Meat Processing industry in the United States is JBS USA Holdings.
How competitive is the Meat Processing industry in the United States?
The level of competition is moderate and decreasing in the Meat Processing industry in the United States.
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