Emerging markets draw meat processing machinery exports

While Europe was still the most important sales region, VDMA said 14% of exports were already sold to Asia and 12% to Latin America.

And the organisation said at the same time, the European share had decreased from 60% to 50% within five years.

According to data from VDMA, the two foremost single markets for meat processing machinery have been Russia and the US. This is followed by France, China, Austria, UK, Spain, Switzerland, Italy and Australia.

Top 25​

However, the list of the top 25 today also includes countries such as Venezuela, Chile, Mexico, Thailand, South Korea and South Africa.

In addition, meat processing machinery exports to the Near East and Middle East have increased dynamically within the last few years and amounted to €75m in 2011. The most important single market in the region was Saudi-Arabia, followed by Iran and United Arab Emirates.

Growth in the sector would continue to be driven by rising meat consumption, with a focus on countries in Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, VDMA said.

In many countries, particularly those with a strong backlog demand and sound economic development, the projected annual growth rates would reach double digit figures, the organisation added.

One third of world exports

Germany covered one third of world exports of meat processing machinery, VDMA said, with the Netherlands representing 20% and Italy, the US, Austria, Denmark, China, Spain, Poland and France with shares between four and eight percent.

World exports of meat processing machinery were buoyant, VDMA claimed, having grown by more than 50% in the past 10 years. However, this did not represent the entire market, it said.

Packaging machinery for meat and meat products, weighing technology, logistics, robotics and automation and other components have to be considered, but there are no clear figures for these areas.

“We believe that – apart from the usual economic fluctuations – the prospects for the supplier industry for meat processing will remain very positive because the global meat industry continues to grow,”​ said Richard Clemens, managing director of VDMA.