Challenges and performance of the Hungarian meat industry in 2023

The position and role of the meat industry in the food industry

The meat industry is one of the most significant segments of the food industry, accounting for 10% of the industry’s enterprises in 2023 and playing a prominent role in sales and employment. The meat industry companies recorded sales revenue of HUF 1,505 billion and employed approximately 19,800 people, which represented 23.7% of the employees in the food industry. At the same time, production and capacity utilization became more and more restrained, partly due to economic considerations and the decreasing production volume.

The structure of the food industry and the proportion of foreign ownership

The majority of food industry enterprises were small and micro-enterprises, their proportion reached 91.4%, while large and medium-sized enterprises accounted for 8.6% of the companies. However, these larger companies accounted for 90.7% of sales revenue and 96.2% of export earnings, and provided 76.3% of the sector’s workforce. The proportion of foreign ownership in the industry was significant: 46.3% of the registered capital was owned by foreign investors, while the remaining 53.7% was shared by domestic corporate, private, state and non-profit owners.

The effect of cost increases on production and consumption

In 2023, rising inflation, raw material prices, energy prices and labor costs put serious pressure on the food industry. Some sectors also struggle with labor shortages, which further complicates efficient production and competitiveness. These rising costs also have a direct impact on consumers, as the consumer prices of food products continue to rise, and in the case of some products, consumption has fallen due to rising prices.