A beef plant is a facility where various types of meat are processed and packaged for sale to commercial customers. Commonly referred to as a meat packing plant in the United States, this facility is also known as a freezing works or a meat plant in other countries.

A beef plant typically involves several stages of meat production, such as slaughtering, cutting, deboning, trimming, grinding, freezing, packaging and labeling. The meat products may include beef, pork, lamb, poultry and other animals. The meat products may be sold as fresh, frozen, canned, dried or cured.

A beef plant may also have facilities for rendering, which is the process of converting animal by-products into useful materials such as tallow, lard, bone meal and gelatin. Rendering helps reduce waste and environmental impact of the meat industry.

A beef plant must comply with various regulations and standards regarding food safety, animal welfare, environmental protection and worker health and safety. A beef plant may also be subject to inspection and certification by government agencies or third-party organizations.

A beef plant may employ various technologies and equipment to improve efficiency, quality and safety of the meat production process. For example, some beef plants use robotic systems for cutting and deboning meat, or use computerized systems for tracking and tracing meat products. Some beef plants also use humane methods for stunning and slaughtering animals, such as electric shock or carbon dioxide gas.

A beef plant may also implement practices to reduce its environmental impact, such as using renewable energy sources, recycling water and waste materials, or using biodegradable packaging materials.

A beef plant may face various challenges and opportunities in the meat industry, such as increasing consumer demand, changing consumer preferences, rising production costs, competition from other meat producers or alternative protein sources, or emerging markets and technologies.

The global beef industry is expected to reach US$ 271.6 billion in 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5% from 2021 to 2027. The growth of the beef industry is driven by various factors, such as increasing population, income, urbanization, and demand for protein-rich food. However, the industry also faces several challenges and uncertainties, such as the impact of COVID-19, environmental and animal welfare concerns, consumer preferences, competition from alternative protein sources, and trade policies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the global beef supply chain and affected the production, consumption, trade, and prices of beef in 2020 and 2021. The pandemic has caused logistical hurdles, reduced food service and household spending, lowered incomes, and increased feed costs for the beef sector. However, the pandemic has also stimulated the demand for online retail and e-commerce channels for beef products. The recovery of the beef industry depends on the vaccination progress, consumer confidence, and economic recovery in different regions.

The global beef production is projected to increase by 5.8% from 2021 to 2030, reaching 75 million tonnes by 2030. The growth of beef production is mainly driven by China, Brazil, and the United States. China is expected to recover from the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak that has decimated its pigmeat production since 2018 and increase its beef production by 28% by 2030. Brazil is expected to expand its beef production by 11% by 2030, supported by its abundant land and feed resources and strong export demand. The United States is expected to increase its beef production by 4% by 2030, despite facing higher feed costs and environmental regulations.

The global beef consumption is projected to increase by 14% from 2021 to 2030, reaching 374 million tonnes by 2030. The growth of beef consumption is mainly driven by income and population growth in developing countries, especially in Asia and Africa. China is projected to account for 43% of the total increase in beef consumption by 2030, followed by India with 12%. However, in high-income countries, the per capita beef consumption is expected to level off or decline due to changing consumer preferences, ageing population, health concerns, and environmental awareness.

The global beef trade is projected to grow by 9% from 2021 to 2030, reaching 11.4 million tonnes by 2030. The growth of beef trade is mainly driven by the demand from China, which is projected to increase its beef imports by 56% by 2030. China’s beef imports are mainly sourced from Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Uruguay, and New Zealand. The United States is also expected to increase its beef exports by 15% by 2030, mainly to Japan, South Korea, Mexico, and Canada. However, the global beef trade may face uncertainties due to trade policies, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, animal diseases, climate change, and geopolitical tensions.