Australia
AU ANZSIC C1111 | Industry Report

Meat Processing in Australia Industry Data and Analysis

BA
Benjamin Atkin-Davies
Analyst Melbourne, Australia June 2026

The Meat Processing industry’s performance has been robust, driven by strong global demand and underpinned by extensive free trade agreements. The industry is heavily geared towards exports, which contribute around 80% of industry revenue. Tight global supply, coupled with strong demand in key markets like the United States, has pushed up red meat prices and total exports in recent years. Because farmers respond to global prices, this has driven up saleyard prices, increasing processors' purchase costs. Higher costs have translated into smaller profit margins, as Producer Price Index data indicates that input prices have outpaced prices over the past few years. Domestically, evolving consumer preferences for healthier and ethically sourced options and the burgeoning plant-based meat sector are threatening sales, forcing processors to innovate. Despite this, export growth is anticipated to propel revenue at an annualised rate of 1.9% over the five years through 2026-27, reaching $32.4 billion. However, newly imposed trade restrictions from the United States and China have led to an expected 5.9% decline in revenue growth in the current year.

Continue reading

What's included in this industry analysis

IBISWorld's research coverage on the Meat Processing industry in Australia includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released June 2026.

Download a sample

Experience a full industry title in multiple formats to fit your workflow.

Download sample

About this industry

What's this industry report about?

The Meat Processing industry in Australia operates under the ANZSIC industry code C1111. Meat processors prepare live animals into meat products. Processors slaughter, bone, freeze, preserve, pack and can meat. The industry also includes businesses that manufacture meat from abattoir byproducts and render lard or tallow. Related terms covered in the Meat Processing industry in Australia include turn-off, feedlot, service kill, vertical integration, abattoirs, throughput , saleyard and beef scribing.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in Meat Processing industry in Australia include Beef and veal, Lamb and mutton and Pig meat .

What companies are included in this industry?

Companies covered in the Meat Processing industry in Australia include JBS Australia, Thomas Foods International and Teys Australia.

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 Australia.

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 Australia.

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 Australia.

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 Australia. 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 Australia. 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 Australia. 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 Australia. 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 Australia.

Access this data your way

The Meat Processing in Australia Industry analysis is available in multiple formats to fit seamlessly into your workflow.

IBISWorld Industry Report platform

IBISWorld Platform

Answer any industry question in minutes with our entire database at your fingertips.

Screen of code example for the IBISWorld api

API Data Delivery

Feed trusted, human-driven industry intelligence straight into your platform.

IBISWorld Data integration with a Client user interface

Integrations

Streamline your workflow with IBISWorld’s intelligence built into your toolkit.

Trusted by industry professionals

More than 6,000 businesses use IBISWorld to shape local and global economies

We were able to supplement our reports with IBISWorld’s information from both a qualitative and quantitative standpoint. All of our reporting now features some level of IBISWorld integration.

BDO logo

IBISWorld delivers the crisp business knowledge we need to drive our business.  Whether it be serving up our major clients, winning new business or educating  on industry issues, IBISWorld brings real value.

PWC logo

IBISWorld has revolutionised business information — which has proved commercially invaluable to exporters, investors and public policy professionals in Australia and overseas.

Australian Trade and Investment Commission logo

When you’re able to speak to clients and be knowledgeable about what they do and the state that they operate in, they’re going to trust you a lot more.

Citi Bank logo

10,000,000+ Data points

100% Industry analyst verified

50,000 + Industry titles

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the market size of the Meat Processing industry in Australia in 2026?

The market size of the Meat Processing industry in Australia is $32.4bn in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the Meat Processing industry in Australia in 2026?

There are 644 businesses in the Meat Processing industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2021 and 2026.

How may import tariffs affect the Meat Processing industry in Australia?

The Meat Processing industry in Australia 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 Australia?

The Meat Processing industry in Australia is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.

Has the Meat Processing industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Meat Processing industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2021 and 2026.

What is the forecast growth of the Meat Processing industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Meat Processing industry in Australia is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Meat Processing industry in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Meat Processing industry in Australia are JBS Australia, Thomas Foods International and Teys Australia

What does the Meat Processing industry in Australia include?

Beef and veal meat and Lamb and sheep meat are part of the Meat Processing industry in Australia.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Meat Processing industry in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in the Meat Processing industry in Australia is JBS Australia.

How competitive is the Meat Processing industry in Australia?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Meat Processing industry in Australia.

Cut through the noise with intelligence you can trust

/img/content/home/cta-image-1.webp
/img/content/home/cta-image-2.webp
/img/content/home/cta-image-3.webp
/img/content/home/cta-image-4.webp
/img/content/home/cta-image-5.webp
Atlas Product Details