Estonia produced 76,500 tonnes of meat last year, a 1% increase on the previous year, new data from Statistics Estonia has found.
On average, 56 kilograms of meat were produced per person in Estonia last year, with 71% of all meat consumed in the country of local origin.
If imports are included, the total per capita meat consumption reached 78 kilograms last year, according to the data.
From a farming perspective, Estonia’s livestock included 232,400 cattle, 283,600 pigs, 49,300 sheep and goats, and 2.4 million poultry as of the end of 2024.
Pork production
The increase in meat production in Estonia last year was largely driven by a 6% increase in pork production, according to Ege Kirs, analyst at Statistics Estonia.
“However, poultry production decreased by 3% and beef production by 5%,” Kirs noted. “Sheep and goat meat production in Estonia remained very low at 400 tonnes. 42,100 tonnes of pork, 22,200 tonnes of poultry meat, and 11,800 tonnes of beef were produced.”
Imports of meat and meat-based products remained relatively unchanged, year-on-year, with Estonia importing 75,500 tonnes and exporting 44,300 tonnes.
If production, import, and export figures are considered, the total meat consumption in 2024 was estimated at 107,600 tonnes.
Most-consumed meat
Pork continues to be the most-consumed meat in Estonia, with 42.4 kilograms consumed per person annually, ahead of poultry (27.2 kilograms) and beef (7.9 kilograms). Less than half a kilogram of sheep and goat meat was consumed per capita.
Pork also saw the biggest increase in consumption last year, of 13%, although consumption increased for all meat types. Read more here.
