The beef meat slaughtering industry in Saudi Arabia has displayed notable fluctuations over the past decade. The year 2013 saw 260,000 heads of beef cattle slaughtered, which dipped to 201.79 thousand heads in 2014, a decrease by 22.39%. This period of fluctuation persisted until 2017. In 2018, the industry saw a significant jump by 30.51%, reaching 271.45 thousand heads. This upward trend continued until 2021, achieving 316.92 thousand heads with an 8.71% increase compared to the previous year. The year 2022 showed a modest growth of 3.11%, while 2023 witnessed a 2.95% increase, standing at 336.41 thousand heads. The forecast indicates continued growth, reaching 386.8 thousand heads by 2028, with a 5-year CAGR of 2.2%.
Future trends to watch for:
- Potential impacts of policy changes on beef import regulations.
- Technological advancements in livestock farming and slaughtering practices.
- Shifts in consumer preferences towards beef or alternative proteins.
- Economic factors including inflation and disposable income affecting meat consumption.
