100+ Critical Food Industry Facts and Statistics: 2023

The global food industry is massive in terms of scale and revenue. Below we take a look at 100+ food industry facts and statistics for 2023 and beyond. This review is split into several sections covering the various areas of the food industry:

• Overall Food Industry Facts and Statistics For 2023
• Global Fresh Food Market Facts and Statistics
  • Global Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Statistics
  • Global Meat Statistics
  • Global Seafood Statistics
• Global Diary Market Facts and Statistics
• Global Confectionery Market Statistics
• Food Industry Facts and Statistics For 2022 Summary

1 – Overall Food Industry Facts and Statistics For 2023

• Total revenue in the global food market is expected to reach $8.66 trillion in 2022. (Statista)
• The expected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of the global food market between 2022 – 2027 is estimated at around 6.72%. (Statista)
• China generates the largest share of revenue globally estimated at $1.2 trillion in 2022. (Statista)
• It’s estimated that 7.8% of total revenue in the food market will be produced online globally in 2022. (Statista)

2 – Global Fresh Food Market Facts and Statistics

The global fresh food market is one of the largest single sectors within the overall global food industry. The fresh food market consists of the following types of food:

• Meat
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Seafood (including fish)

Let’s take a look at some key facts and statistics around the global fresh food market:

• The global fresh food market was estimated to have a total value of $3.07 trillion as of 2021. (Business Wire)
• The market for global fresh food is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.23% reaching an estimated $3.92 trillion by end of 2027. (Business Wire)
• Increasing healthy consciousness, more occurrences of lifestyle disorders as well as growing income levels of consumers are some of the main factors driving increasing demand in fresh food globally. (Business Wire)

2.1 – Global Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Statistics

• Fresh vegetables are expected to account for around $691.20 billion in 2022. The market is expected to grow by around 6.79% per year (CAGR) between 2022 and 2027. (Statista)
• China accounts for the biggest portion of revenues generated within fresh vegetables with an estimated $83.73bn expected in 2022. (Statista)
• The global fresh fruit market was estimated at $551.1 billion as of 2021. (Grand View Research)
• It’s expected that the global fresh fruit market will grow by around 3.6% annually (CAGR) between 2022 to 2028. (Grand View Research)
• 80% of sales in the global fresh fruit market in 2021 were conducted offline. The online channel is expected to grow annually by 4.2% between 2022 and 2028. (Grand View Research)
• Bananas accounted for the largest product share in the global fresh food market with 15% of sales. The continued move towards consuming more fresh fruit and vegetables is expected to further fuel the sector as a whole. (Grand View Research)

• Demand for apples and pears is expected to rise (4.3% CAGR) fastest between 2022 and 2028 within the fresh fruit segment. (Grand View Research)
• The Asia Pacific region accounted for more than 40% of the market share of fresh fruits in 2021. Within this area, China, India and Japan dominate in terms of demand for fresh fruits. (Grand View Research)
• Europe is expected to see the fastest growth in the fresh fruit market between 2022 and 2028 growing at a CAGR of 4.2%. (Grand View Research)
• The US alone exported $7.2 billion worth of fresh fruit and vegetables in 2021. (FAS)
• Canada was the USA’s biggest export partner in 2021 accounting for 52% of total exports ($3.7 billion). (FAS)
• Mexico is the second top US export market for fresh fruits and vegetables accounting for 14% of US exports. (FAS)
• India increased its tariff on US apples in June 2019 taking the total tariff to 70%. (FAS)

2.2 – Global Meat Statistics

• The global meat market was valued between an estimated $1.1 trillion in 2021. (Globe Newswire)
• Since 2016 the global meat market has increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4%. (Globe Newswire)
• The global meat market is dominated by beef which accounts for the largest share of the meat products market share at 44.5%. (Globe Newswire)
• The market for pork is expected to grow the fastest between 2021 – 2026 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%. (Globe Newswire)
• Pork and poultry were the two most produced types of meat by weight between 2016 and 2020. (Statista)
• Between 2017 and 2020 poultry overtook pork as the most heavily produced meat worldwide (Statista)
• No country produces more beef and veal than the United States as of 2020. The US produced 12.4 million metric tons of Beef in 2020. (Statista)

• The United States is the world’s largest domestic consumer of beef. (Statista)
• An estimated 50.2% of meat products are sold in supermarkets and hypermarkets. (Globe Newswire)
• In terms of product type, the canned/preserved segment had the largest market share of the meat products market at 52.7% in 2021. The other two main areas are chilled and frozen meat products. (Globe Newswire)
• The chilled meat product market is expected to grow the fastest between 2021 and 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%. (Globe Newswire)
• The Asia Pacific region accounted for 50.8% of global meat consumption followed by North America, Western Europe, and the rest of the world. (Globe Newswire)
• The total production of meat across the world rose 5% in 2021 to an estimated 339 million tons. (OECD)
• Global meat supply is expected to reach 377 million tons by 2031 (OECD)
• The top five meat producers in the world are (1) China, (2) the United States, (3) the European Union, (4) Brazil and (5) Russa. (OECD)
• Pig production in China rose by 34% in 2021. (OECD)
• Global meat consumption is expected to grow by an estimated 15% between 2022 and 2031. (OECD)
• Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the global meat sector are expected to increase by 9% between 2022 – 2031. (OECD)
• Animal welfare and health concerns will continue to have an impact on consumer behaviour and meat consumption. (OECD)
• Global consumption of poultry is expected to increase to 154 million tons by 2031 representing nearly half of the additional projected meat consumption between 2021 and 2031. On a per capita basis this growth reflects the importance poultry plays in the national diet of several populous developing countries including China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Peru, the Phillipines and Vietnam. (OECD)
• By 2031, Peru is projected to overtake the United States as the second largest per capita consumer of poultry meat. (OECD)
• Global poultry meat production is expected to grow 16% between 2022 – 2031. (OECD)
• The global consumption of pig meat is expected to increase to 129 million tons by 2031. (OECD)
• In the European Union pork will remain the most eaten meat up until 2031. (OECD)
• Global consumption of beef is estimated to increase to 76 million tons by 2031. (OECD)
• 91% of the projected increase in global meat production up to 2031 is expected to come from developing countries. (OECD)
• On a per capita basis global consumption of beef has declined since 2007 and is expected to fall by a further 2% by 2031. (OECD)
• The consumption of beef in China has risen by 50% per capita in the last decade and is projected to rise by a further 10% between 2022 – 2031. (OECD)
• Per capita consumption of beef between 2022 – 2031 is expected to fall in most countries that have high beef per capita consumption (Oceania, -15%; Argentina, -5%; United States, -4%; Brazil, -2%; Canada, -2%). (OECD)

• The global consumption of sheep meat is expected to increase to 18 million tons by 2031. (OECD)
• Sheep meat will account for 5% of the additional meat consumed globally up until 2031. (OECD)

2.3 – Global Seafood Statistics

When referring to fish and seafood this covers aquatic creatures from freshwater and oceans that are edible in nature. They mainly, but not exclusively, broadly cover the key categories molluscs, crustaceans and fish.

The global seafood sector includes fish and other types of seafood covering fresh, frozen and processed fish and seafood.

Let’s delve into some of the key facts and statistics in relation to the global seafood market:

• The global market for seafood is thought to be worth between $116.8 billion as of 2022. (Globe Newswire)
• The global market for seafood is projected to grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9% reaching $134 billion by 2026. (Globe Newswire)
• The value of the groundfish market is expected to reach a value of $37.3 billion by 2026. (Globe Newswire)
• The value of the seafood market in the United States is expected to be around $6.4 billion in 2022. (Globe Newswire)
• China’s seafood market is expected to reach a value of $51.2 billion by 2026 representing an estimated compound annual gross rate (CAGR) of 3.7%. (Globe Newswire)
• Tuna is considered the most popular type of seafood in the west and constitutes nearly 25% of the total seafood consumed. (Globe Newswire)

• The value of the global tuna market is predicted to reach $16.3 billion by 2026. (Globe Newswire)
• China, USA, Canada, Japan and Europe account for an estimated $7.9 billion worth of value in the tuna market. (Globe Newswire)
• Within the tuna market, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow to $5.1 billion by 2026. (Globe Newswire)
• Total consumption of seafood increased by 0.1kg per capita in 2021, a slight increase following a small decline in 2020 due to COVID-19. (OECD)
• Seafood consumption is expected to grow by around 1.4% per year up to 2031. This is compared to 2% per year for the prior decade. (OECD)
• The growth in demand for seafood is expected to rise at a faster rate up to 2031 than the demand for meat (1.4% per year for fish vs 1.0% per year for meat). (OECD)
• By 2031 an estimated 183 million tons of seafood is expected to be consumed as food. (OECD)
• An estimated 20.3 million tons of seafood is projected to go to non-food uses (predominantly fishmeal and fish oil) by 2031. (OECD)
• Asia is projected to account for 72% of the total seafood consumed by 2031. (OECD)
• An estimated 55% of the seafood consumed in 2021 came from aquaculture. (OECD)
• By 2031, a projected 59% of the seafood consumed globally is expected to come from aquaculture. (OECD)
• Aquaculture (also known as aquafarming, the breeding, rearing and harvesting of seafood), is expected to overtake fish capture production by 2023. (OECD)
• By 2031 global seafood production from aquaculture is expected to reach 108 million tons compared to 96 million tons for the capture sector. (OECD)

3 – Global Diary Market Facts and Statistics

Let’s now take a look at facts and statistics relating to the dairy market which is a major component of the overall global food industry.

The dairy sector consists of companies that develop dairy products from raw milk as well as processed milk products. In addition, they also manufacture dry, condensed, and concentrated dairy products in addition to evaporated dairy and also provide dairy substitute products.

• The global dairy market was estimated at a value of $827.4 billion in 2020. (Statista)

• The market for dairy is expected to grow to around $1.128 trillion by 2026. (Statista)
• The European Union accounts for the largest source of dairy global market value with an estimated 41% in 2021. (Statista)
• Oceania was the second largest dairy market by region in 2021 with 26% of the total share. (Statista)

• The global market for organic dairy products was estimated at a value of $22.2 billion in 2021. This is forecast to grow to $34.8 billion by 2027. (Statista)
• Over 10% of cows globally are within but not limited to organic systems as of 2022. (AHDB)
• 544 million tons of cows milk and nearly 22 million metric tons of cheese were produced globally in 2021. (Statista)
• Global milk production is comprised of an estimated 81% cow milk; 15% buffalo milk and 4% goat, sheep, and camel milk combined. (Statista)

• It’s estimated that there will be a decline of 0.5% in global milk supplies for the year 2022. The declines in milk supplies in 2022 are largely driven by lower grass quality as a result of hot weather, dry weather as well as lower feed use as a result of scarcity of supplies and increased costs. (AHDB)
• The EU is forecast to have the largest decline in milk supplies for 2022 amounting to an estimated 838m litres decrease from 2021 values. (AHDB)
• Milk production in the USA is expected to be down 132million litres in 2022. (AHDB)
• The UK is expected to experience a 174 million litre drop in milk supply for 2022. (AHDB)
• Argentina is expected to see an increase in milk production in 2022 with supplies expected to increase by 173 million litres. This marks continued growth but a slower pace than previously due to farm finances becoming less favourable than previously. (AHDB)

• Global milk production is expected to grow 1.8% per year between 2022 to 2031 increasing to 1,060 metric tons by 2031. (AHDB)
• Over half the increase in global milk production between 2022 to 2031 is expected to come from India and Pakistan which are expected to account for over 30% of global production by 2031. (AHDB)
• Canada is estimated to have the highest average milk yield per cow at around 11 t/animal between 2019 – 2021. (AHDB)
• The USA has the second highest average milk yield per cow after Canada. (AHDB)
• A dairy cow can produce an average of 28 litres of milk per day over 10 months. (Compassion In Food Business)
• China is expected to remain the biggest importer of milk products over the next decade. (AHDB)

4 – Global Confectionery Market Statistics

The global confectionary market is comprised of products types including chocolate, sugar-based sweets and gums.

• The global confectionery market was worth an estimated $194.37 billion in 2021. (Fortune Business)
• The global confectionery market contracted significantly in 2020 declining by an estimated 7.1% as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and was valued at $188.52 billion. (Fortune Business)
• The market for global confectionery is expected to grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8% between 2021 – 2028 reaching an estimated $242.53 billion by 2028. (Fortune Business)
• Chocolate accounted for 57.64% of the global market share in confectionery as of 2020. (Fortune Business)
• In the US, chocolate had a 51.09% share of the confectionery market in 2020. (Fortune Business)
• Chocolate is the highest per capita consumed product in the global confectionery market. (Grand View Research)
• Cocoa contract prices averaged $2,528 per tonne in January 2021 a 6% drop from the prior year average of $2,675 per tonne. (Fortune Business Insights)
• Europe was the biggest market for confectionery in 2020 accounting for $73.41 billion. (Fortune Business)
• The Asia-Pacific confectionery market is expected to grow the fastest of all regions between 2022 and 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.0%. (Grand View Research)
• Based on research by Döhler, a maker of natural ingredients, 50% of confectionery product consumers want healthier options with at least 60% in natural ingredients. (Grand View Research)
• The sugar based confectionery segment of the market is expected to grow the fastest at a rate of 4.9% per year between 2022 to 2028. (Grand View Research)
• An estimated 75% of global confectionery sales in 2021 were conducted offline. (Grand View Research)

• The online confectionery segment of the confectionery market is set to grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% between 2022 and 2028. (Grand View Research)
• The global vegan-based confectionery market was an estimated $1.1 billion in 2021. (Grand View Research)
• The vegan-based global confectionery market is expected to grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.8% between 2022 and 2030. (Grand View Research)

Food Industry Facts and Statistics For 2022 Summary

No’	Statistic
1	$8.66 trillion – Total revenue in the global food market in 2022. (Statista)
2	6.72% – Estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the global food market between 2022 – 2027 (Statista)
3	$1.2 trillion – Share of global food revenue generated by China in 2022, the largest in the world. (Statista)
4	7.8% – Share of global food revenue that will be generated online in 2022. (Statista)
5	$3.07 trillion – Estimated value of the global fresh food market in 2021. (Business Wire)
6	$3.92 trillion – The projected value of the global fresh food market by 2027. (Business Wire)
7	$691.20 billion – Estimated value of the fresh vegetables market in 2022. (Statista)
8	$83.73bn – Estimated revenue from China from fresh vegetables in 2022. (Statista)
9	$551.1 billion – The value of the global fresh food market as of 2021.  (Grand View Research)
10	80% – The proportion of global fresh fruits sold offline in 2021. (Grand View Research)
11	4.2% – The projected annual growth of online fresh fruit sales between 2022 – 2028. (Grand View Research)
12	15% – The share of the global fresh fruit market held by bananas. (Grand View Research)
13	4.3% – The projected annual increase in demand for apples and pears between 2022 – 2028. (Grand View Research)
14	40% – The fresh fruits market share for the Asia Pacific region in 2021, the largest in the world. (Grand View Research)
15	4.2% – Europe’s expected annual growth rate for its fresh fruit market between 2022 – 2028, the fastest in the world. (Grand View Research)
16	$7.2 billion – The value of US exports of fresh fruit and vegetables in 2021. (FAS)
17	52% ($3.7 billion) – The value of US exports to Canada in 2021, the USA’s biggest export partner.  (FAS)
18	14% – The proportion of US fresh fruit and vegetables exports going to Mexico. (FAS)
19	70% – The total tariffs imposed by India on US apples from June 2019 onward. (FAS)
20	$1.1 trillion – Estimated value of the global meat market in 2021.  (Globe Newswire)
21	9.4% – Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the global meat market since 2016. (Globe Newswire)
22	44.5% – The share of the global meat market held by beef, the largest sector. (Globe Newswire)
23	8.7% – The projected annual growth rate of the port market between 2021 – 2026. (Globe Newswire)
24	12.4 million metric tons – The amount of beef produced by the US in 2020, more than any other nation. (Statista)
25	50.2% – The share of meat products sold through supermarkets and hypermarkets. (Globe Newswire)
26	8.1% – The estimated compound annual growth rate of the chilled meat product market between 2021 – 2026, the fastest compared to frozen meat and canned/preserved meat. (Globe Newswire)
27	50.8% – The proportion of global meat consumption held by the Asia Pacific region.  (Globe Newswire)
28	339 million tons – Global meat production in 2021. (OECD)
29	337 million tons – Projected global meat production by 2031. (OECD)
30	34% – The increase in pig production in China in 2021. (OECD)
31	15% – The estimated growth rate in meat consumption between 2022 – 2031.  (OECD)
32	9% – The estimated increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the global meat sector between 2022 – 2031. (OECD)
33	154 million tons – The estimated total global consumption of poultry by 2031. (OECD)
34	16% – The estimated growth in global poultry production between 2022 – 2031.  (OECD)
35	129 million tons – The projected global consumption of pig meat by 2031. (OECD)
36	76 million tons – The estimated global consumption of beef by 2031.  (OECD)
37	2% – The estimated decline in global beef consumption between 2022 – 2031. (OECD)
38	10% – The projected increase in consumption of beef in China between 2022 – 2031. (OECD)
39	-15% – The per capita decline in beef consumption in Oceania between 2022 – 2031. (OECD)
40	-5% – The per capita decline in beef consumption in Argentina between 2022 – 2031. (OECD)
41	-4% – The per capita decline in beef consumption in the United States between 2022 – 2031. (OECD)
42	-2% – The per capita decline in beef consumption in Brazil between 2022 – 2031. (OECD)
43	-2% – The per capita decline in beef consumption in Canada between 2022 – 2031. (OECD)
44	18 million tons – The global consumption of sheep meat by 2031. (OECD)
45	5% – The proportion of additional meat consumed globally between 2022 – 2031 accounted for by sheep meat. (OECD)
46	$116.8 billion – The estimated value of the global seafood market in 2022. (Globe Newswire)
47	$134 billion – The estimated value of the global seafood market in 2026. (Globe Newswire)
48	$37.3 billion – The estimated value of the groundfish market by 2026. (Globe Newswire)
49	$6.4 billion – The projected value of the US seafood market in 2022.  (Globe Newswire)
50	$51.2 billion – The estimated value of China’s seafood market by 2026. (Globe Newswire)
51	25% – The total percentage of seafood consumed that is made up of tuna, the most popular seafood in the western world. (Globe Newswire)
52	$16.3 billion – The projected value of the global tuna market by 2026. (Globe Newswire)
53	$7.9 billion – The value of the global tuna market represented by China, USA, Canada, Japan and Europe. (Globe Newswire)
54	$5.1 billion – The Asia Pacific region’s estimated tuna market size by 2026. (Globe Newswire)
55	0.1kg per capita – Increase in consumption of seafood per capita in 2021. (OECD)
56	1.4% – The annual estimated growth in seafood consumption between 2022 – 2031. (OECD)
57	183 million tons – The estimated annual consumption of seafood by 2031. (OECD)
58	20.3 million tons – The estimated amount of seafood that is projected to go to non-food uses by 2031. (OECD)
59	72% – The projected amount of seafood consumed by Asia by 2031. (OECD)
60	55% – The estimated amount of seafood that came from aquaculture in 2021. (OECD)
61	59% – The projected amount of seafood that is expected to come from aquaculture by 2031. (OECD)
62	108 million tons – The total projected production of seafood from aquaculture by 2031. (OECD)
63	96 million tons – The total projected production of seafood from the capture sector by 2031. (OECD)
64	$827.4 billion – The estimated value of the dairy market in 2020. (Statista)
65	$1.128 trillion – The projected value of the dairy market by 2026. (Statista)
66	41% – The proportion of the dairy market accounted for by the European Union in 2021. (Statista)
67	26% – The market share for dairy held by Oceania in 2021. (Statista)
68	$22.2 billion – The estimated value of the global market for organic dairy products in 2021. (Statista)
69	$34.8 billion – The forecast value of the global organic dairy products by 2027. (Statista)
70	10% – The proportion of cows globally that are within but not limited to, organic systems as of 2022. (AHDB)
71	544 metric tons – The estimated volume of cows’ milk that was produced globally in 2021. (Statista)
72	81% – The proportion of global milk production accounted for by cows milk. (Statista)
73	15% – The proportion of global milk production accounted for by buffalo milk. (Statista)
74	4% – The proportion of global milk production accounted for by goat, sheep and camel milk. (Statista)
75	0.5% – The estimated decline in global milk supplies in 2022. (AHDB)
76	848 million litres – The projected decrease in milk supplies in Europe for 2022. (AHDB)
77	132 million litres – The estimated decline in milk production in the United States in 2022.  (AHDB)
78	174 million litres – The anticipated decline in milk supply in the UK for 2022. (AHDB)
79	173 million litres – The estimated increase in milk supplies in Argentina for 2022. (AHDB)
80	1.8% – The estimated growth in global milk production between 2022 – 2031. (AHDB)
81	30% – The projected proportion of global milk production that will come from India and Pakistan by 2031. (AHDB)
82	11 tons per animal – Canada’s estimated average milk yield per cow; the highest of any country. (AHDB)
83	28 litres per day – The estimated average amount of milk a cow can produce over 10 months. (Compassion In Food Business)
84	$194.37 billion – The estimated value of the global confectionery market in 2021. (Fortune Business)
85	7.1% – The estimated decrease in the value of the global confectionery market in 2020.  (Fortune Business)
86	$188.52 billion – The estimated value of the global confectionery market in 2020. (Fortune Business)
87	3.8% – The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the global confectionery market between 2021 – 2028. (Fortune Business)
88	$242.53 billion – The projected value of the global confectionery market by 2028. (Fortune Business)
89	57.64% – The total proportion of the global confectionery market taken by chocolate as of 2020. (Fortune Business)
90	51.09% – The share of the US confectionery occupied by chocolate as of 2020.  (Fortune Business)
91	$2,528 per ton – The average price of cocoa contracts in January 2021. (Fortune Business Insights)
92	6% – The percentage drop in cocoa price per ton between January 2021 and the 2020 year average. (Fortune Business Insights)
93	$2,675 per ton – The average price of cocoa contracts in 2020. (Fortune Business Insights)
94	$73.41 billion – The value of Europe’s confectionery market in 2020, the biggest in the world. (Fortune Business)
95	5.0% – The projected compound annual growth rate of the Asia-Pacific confectionery market between 2022 and 2028. (Grand View Research)
96	50% – The amount of confectionery product consumers who want healthier options. (Grand View Research)
97	4.9% – The estimated annual growth rate of the sugar confectionery segment between 2022 and 2028. (Grand View Research)
98	75% – The proportion of global confectionery sales conducted offline in 2021. (Grand View Research)
99	25% – The proportion of global confectionery sales conducted onine in 2021. (Grand View Research)
99	5.2% – The projected compound annual growth rate of the online confectionery segment between 2022 and 2028. (Grand View Research)
100	$1.1 billion – The estimated value of the global vegan-based confectionery market in 2021.  (Grand View Research)
101	11.8% – The projected annual compound growth rate of the global vegan-based confectionery market between 2022 and 2030. (Grand View Research)