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 Beef consumption resilient in 2020, international demand for Canadian beef surged Food consumption data for 2020 released by Statistics Canada this week showed that beef held its own last year, even as overall per capita consumption of red meat and poultry slipped under pandemic pressures. The per capita consumption data is a strong showing given the turmoil of supply and demand shocks on Canada’s beef supply system last year. Per capita beef consumption was up 0.3% at 18 kg retail weight. Total beef consumption in 2020 was up 1.5% with 77% of beef consumed in Canada sourced from domestic production, down from 81% in 2019, according to Canfax. Statistics Canada’s food available for consumption data (also known as disappearance data) indicates the amount of food that is physically present in a country for consumption, and is not demand. Disappearance data are reported annually are most useful for determining trends over time. Canadian beef exports from January to December 2020 were down 3% in volume and up 1.2% in value. Still, at 527,220 metric tonnes (carcass weight basis), Canada’s 2020 beef exports were the second highest reported in the last decade, with only 2019 reporting a higher volume. This is a significant result given the production slowdowns and processing capacity challenges the Canadian industry experienced in the first part of year. As processor capacity recovered, exports increased in the 4th Quarter of 2020 to capitalize on global demand. International demand for Canadian beef was up 3.3% from 2019 to make a new record high at 124 (Index 2000=100). While imports edged higher in 2020, the total is in line with import volumes (CW) recorded in 2015. Moreover, 2019 imports were in the low range and in line with volumes last seen in 2008. Retail beef demand was up 5.5% in 2020, as calculated by Canfax, with the shift in consumer purchases due to stay-at-home guidelines. The retail beef demand index measures consumer’s willingness to pay by evaluating per capita consumption and deflated retail prices. Retail beef demand dipped from the 2016 high until 2019 but remained well above previous levels. The surge in 2020 is the third highest in recent history. On a volume basis, beef’s market share was up accounting for 28.7% of total meat consumption (including seafish). On a value basis, beef’s share of total deflated Canadian meat expenditures increased to 43.6% from 40.1%. Back to main page |
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