Why the Global Demand for Frozen Meat Is Rising in 2025: Country-Wise Frozen Meat Export Import Data

The frozen meat market is steadily increasing across the world and it is reasonable to expect that it will continue to grow in the future.The global demand for frozen meat is set to rise in 2025 for a combination of reasons like busy lifestyles, the rise of convenience foods, and the growth of online food delivery services.

In this blog we will get to know “why the global demand for frozen meat is rising in 2025”, global Frozen Meat Import Export Data , we will also look at some market trends and insight with some challenges that the meat export market faces for international buyers.

Why the Global Demand for Frozen Meat Is Rising in 2025

• Convenience and Time Savings 

Frozen meat comes up as an easy meal option that meets the demands of busy schedules and the growing trend for ready-to-cook and ready to eat meals in modern busy day life.

• Longer Shelf Life

Compared to fresh meat , frozen meat has a longer shelf life, which means that there will be less wastage of food and more flexibility for meal planning.

• E-commerce and Retail Expansion 

The growth of Online grocery shopping and large retail chains, particularly in developing countries means frozen meat is more widely available.

• Improved Freezing Technology

The preservation of frozen meat is more successful with technologies like flash freezing or cryogenic freezing which help to preserve both the texture, flavor and nutrient composition of meat which adds up to be an interesting proposition.  

• Globalization and Trade 

Improvements in cold-chain infrastructure, concentrate on trade agreements, and willingness from consumers to accept frozen meat internationally, makes frozen meat more available throughout the world.

Country-Wise Export Data of Frozen Meat (2025)

Here are the top exporters of frozen meat, their global export import performance, and how they are meeting the demands of international buyers in 2025:

India

• India continues to lead the global frozen meat market, particularly in carabeef (buffalo meat). In 2025, exports are expected to continue increasing by almost 4% from 2024 to 1.65 million metric tons.

• India's frozen meat has strong demand with main markets being Saudi Arabia, UAE, Vietnam, Indonesia, Iraq, and Malaysia.

• Strong demand from Asia and the Middle East is keeping India in the leadership position.

Brazil

• Brazilian beef exports grew 27% year-on-year to US$7.2 billion in the first half of 2025.

• The growth included a 12.5% growth in export volume coupled with higher average prices. A significant increase came from June 2025, where a 50% increase in export revenue occurred, that included a 23% growth in volume and an average price increase of 22%.

Australia

• Australia's frozen meat exports activity continued to flourish in 2025, with a high degree of quality, and dependable supply chains.

• Main markets were the United States, Vietnam and Indonesia.

• Exports for 2025 included 4.9K shipments from 291 exporters to 619 buyers.

• In Australia's June 2025 report, frozen meat exports were up 22%, with strong sales from Australia to the US.

United States

• The US market has some significant strengths and some serious challenges.

• The US exported $379 million worth of frozen bovine meat in May 2025, but imported $727 million worth, creating a total trade deficit of $348 million.  

• Despite that deficit, the frozen meat market in the US is growing; in May 2025, the frozen meat market is valued at $25.77 billion, and is projected to reach $33.26 billion by 2032.

Newzealand

• New Zealand remains an important player in the beef export market in 2025.

• We expect beef exports to reach 700,000 MT CWE in 2025, 10,000 MT CWE more than in 2024.

• The broader frozen food market in New Zealand, which includes meat, is growing at 4.26% in May 2025, and is projected to grow to 7.35% between now and 2029.

China

• China's frozen meat export values in 2025 provide mixed signals.

• Frozen beef cuts with bones dropped by 94.5% compared to a month earlier.

• In contrast, the frozen chicken meat cuts & organs were up by 2.42%.

• On the import side, frozen beef cuts fell by 22% from the previous month; frozen chicken meat cuts and organs were down by 5.52%.

Spain

• Spain's frozen meat industry is expected to be mainly for poultry in 2025. 

• In May 2025, Spain exported €57.7M of frozen poultry meat and imported €61.6M, resulting in a negative trade balance. Exports saw a €10.1M growth (21.2%), short-term expansion in May compared to the previous month. 

• The primary export markets were Portugal and France, while imports mostly comprised frozen meat, mainly poultry and frozen meats from Poland and the Netherlands.

France

• France indicates a mixed bag for 2025.Poultry exports are anticipated to show a slight decrease.

• Duck meat and other frozen meats have been very strong in terms of exports.

• Overall, the frozen foods market in France is growing and demand is increasing for frozen meat and seafood.

What Are The Challenges in The Frozen Meat Export Market

• Strict Quality and Safety Standards:

Different Countries have different standards for the importation of meat to ensure the hygiene requirements, labelling, and certifications. Meeting these level of regulations can be costly and time consuming.

• Cold Chain Management

Maintaining the right temperature throughout the storage, transportation and delivery is the main element. Any disruption in the cold chain can spoil the meat which can lead to financial issues.

• High Transportation Costs

The costs of international shipping of frozen meat is partly associated with expensive refrigerated logistics. Transport adds to costs due to dangerous goods considerations along with the constantly changing fuel prices.

• Trade Barriers and Tariffs

Import duties, quotas and trading restrictions can cut into profitability. Exporters also must be aware of international trade law.

• Competition and Price Pressure

Frozen meat is exported from many countries, therefore there is high competition. That is why exporters of meat must balance price, quality and delivery time to stay competitive.

• Consumer Preferences

There can be numerous changes in consumer preference, including preference for plant-based alternatives and preference for local meat that impact the demand for frozen meat exports. 

• Disease Outbreaks and Biosecurity Risks

Animal diseases, including avian flu and swine fever can interrupt supply and lead to temporary bans in export of meat products.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the demand for frozen food is increasing due to factors like busy lifestyles, the rise of convenience foods, and the growth of online food delivery services.And some of the top exporters of frozen meat include India, Brazil, Australia, the United States, NewZealand with emerging countries exporters are from Asia and middle east.

In addition, there are some challenges that exporters have to face like strict regulations,increasing logistics cost and new competition. But investing in quality, sustainable practices and maintaining modern cold chain investments can lead to success in a competitive market.

FAQs

Q1. Which frozen meat products are most in demand globally?

Beef, poultry, and buffalo meat are the three major products. For example, buffalo meat has most of India's exports, and Brazil and United States have most of the beef and poultry exports. 

Q2. What are the biggest challenges for frozen meat exporters?

Frozen meat exporters face issues like strict food safety standards, high logistic costs, maintaining cold chain infrastructure , and intense global competition.

Q3. What is causing the global rise in demand for meat?
Population increases, increased disposable incomes, urbanization, changing dietary patterns, and more recently, these factors are particularly relevant in developing countries.

Q4. What is the global trend in frozen food?
The frozen food sector is changing to a healthier, ready-to-cook, and premium quality food products, and the consumer is looking for organic, free of antibiotics, responsibly sourced frozen food products that are being packaged with better, sustainable packaging and can be frozen longer.

Q5. Is the frozen food industry growing?
Yes, the frozen food industry is growing around the world and is stable. This growth is attributed to sound consumer demand, innovative freeze technologies, and a surge in online grocery or food delivery platforms.