Tamás Éder: significant losses have been accumulated by domestic meat industry companies

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 07. 17. 12:07

The Hungarian meat industry has been struggling with significant challenges lately, which was also reflected in the success of the year 2023. Tamás Éder, president of the Hungarian Meat Industry Association, told the Agricultural Sector that in the past year, domestic meat industry companies accumulated significant losses, which were aggravated by declining meat consumption trends and higher production costs.

Live pig prices have risen significantly in recent years, which has created a more favorable situation for pig farmers, but slaughterhouses and product manufacturers are in a more difficult situation than before. The picture for the sector as a whole is mixed: while breeders can make a profit, processors and preservers face serious difficulties.

Interestingly, although the meat-free lifestyle is gaining more and more ground worldwide, the decrease in meat consumption in Hungary is not primarily caused by this, but by income problems. The Hungarian population can afford to consume meat less and less, which poses further challenges for the sector.