The Czech Republic’s meat industry showed signs of recovery in 2024, with total production increasing by 3.3% to reach 450,075 tons after two consecutive years of decline. This upward trend was primarily driven by growth in pork and poultry sectors, while beef production experienced a downturn.
According to Markéta Fiedlerová from the Czech Statistical Office’s Agriculture and Forestry Department, both pork and poultry sectors bounced back from a two-year slump. While beef production decreased, agricultural enterprises maintained their production potential, with many opting to export livestock for slaughter abroad.
Pork production played a significant role in this recovery, showing a 6.9% increase to 211,588 tons in 2024. The industry saw interesting trade dynamics, with livestock exports for slaughter dropping by 8.3% while imports surged by 28.1%. Germany emerged as the primary source of imported pork, with Slovakia being the main export destination.
The poultry sector recorded modest growth, with production reaching 169,534 tons, marking a 1.1% increase from the previous year. While domestic slaughter exports decreased, processed poultry meat imports rose significantly by 11.6% to 134,715 tons, with Poland supplying nearly two-thirds of these imports.
In the dairy sector, direct milk purchases continued their positive trajectory, increasing by 1.7% to reach 3.19 billion liters, marking the third consecutive year of growth in this segment.