Poultry Processing Equipment Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Equipment Type (Killing & Defeathering, Evisceration, Cut Up, Deboning & Skinning, Marinating & Tumbling and Others), By Poultry Type (Chicken Meat, Turkey Meat, Duck Meat and Others), By Product Type (Fresh Processed, Raw Cooked, Pre-Cooked, Raw Fermented Sausages, Cured, Dried and Others), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 4.71 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.21%
Fastest Growing Segment	Raw Cooked
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 6.76 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Poultry Processing Equipment Market will grow from USD 4.71 Billion in 2025 to USD 6.76 Billion by 2031 at a 6.21% CAGR. Poultry processing equipment encompasses the specialized machinery employed for the slaughtering, defeathering, evisceration, cutting, deboning, and final packaging of bird meat for human consumption. The market is primarily driven by the escalating global demand for affordable protein and processed food products, compelling manufacturers to increase throughput capacities. Additionally, rigorous government mandates regarding food safety and hygiene standards necessitate the adoption of automated solutions to minimize human contact and contamination. The persistent labor shortage in the manufacturing sector further accelerates the reliance on mechanized processing lines to ensure operational continuity and efficiency.

According to the National Chicken Council, in 2024, the United States broiler industry marketed approximately 47 billion pounds of ready-to-cook chicken products, representing a 1.4 percent increase from the previous year. This substantial production volume highlights the critical necessity for durable and high-capacity machinery within the sector. However, the market faces a significant challenge regarding the high initial capital investment required for installing these complex automated systems, which can create a barrier to entry for small and medium-sized enterprises attempting to modernize their operations.

Key Market Drivers

The increasing global consumption of poultry meat acts as the primary catalyst for the sustained procurement of high-throughput processing machinery. As populations expand and dietary preferences in developing regions shift toward affordable lean proteins, processors are compelled to scale their slaughtering and evisceration capacities to meet these elevated volume requirements. This surge in production necessitates the installation of robust, industrial-grade lines capable of handling higher birds-per-hour rates without compromising yield or quality. According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, April 2024, in the Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade report, global chicken meat production is forecast to reach a record 104.2 million tons in 2024. Such extensive production volumes directly correlate with increased capital expenditures on defeathering, chilling, and cut-up systems to ensure supply chains remain uninterrupted and capable of meeting international demand.

Simultaneously, the accelerated adoption of automation and robotics is reshaping the sector due to persistent labor scarcity and the requirement for precise, consistent output. Manufacturers are aggressively replacing manual deboning and packaging stations with intelligent robotic systems to mitigate workforce volatility and enhance operational safety. This technological shift is driving significant revenue growth for equipment providers who specialize in labor-saving technologies. According to JBT Corporation, February 2024, in their Full Year 2023 Earnings Release, the company reported FoodTech revenue of 1.6 billion USD, a performance attributed significantly to the recurring demand for automated processing solutions. Furthermore, the global scope of the market is highlighted by the intense trade activity that processing infrastructure must support. According to the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein, January 2024, in their annual sector analysis, Brazilian chicken meat exports reached a total of 5.138 million tons throughout 2023, underscoring the critical role of processing equipment in facilitating large-scale international trade.

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Key Market Challenges

High initial capital investment constitutes a formidable barrier hampering the growth of the Global Poultry Processing Equipment Market. The integration of advanced automated systems—essential for slaughtering, defeathering, and evisceration—demands substantial financial outlay, creating a severe constraint for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Unlike large conglomerates, smaller processors often struggle to secure the necessary funding to upgrade from manual or semi-automated processes to fully mechanized lines. This financial threshold restricts their ability to adopt modern technology, thereby stifling overall market expansion and limiting the potential for enhanced operational efficiency across the broader industry.

The impact of these financial constraints is evident in recent industry performance data. According to the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI), in its 'State of the Industry' report released in November 2024, the growth rate of U.S. processing and packaging machinery shipments was projected to slow to 2.5 percent in 2024, a significant decline from the 5.8 percent growth observed in the previous year. This deceleration highlights how high investment requirements, coupled with economic caution, compel manufacturers to postpone critical equipment upgrades and capacity expansions. Consequently, the market experiences reduced revenue momentum as processors are forced to delay modernization, effectively dampening the demand for innovative processing solutions.

Key Market Trends

The transition toward Controlled Atmosphere Stunning (CAS) technologies is fundamentally altering poultry slaughter workflows by replacing traditional electrical waterbath systems with gas-based induction methods. This shift is primarily motivated by the need to elevate animal welfare standards and improve final meat quality, as CAS eliminates the stress associated with live shackling and reduces carcass defects such as hemorrhages or broken bones. Processors are increasingly integrating these multi-stage gas systems to ensure irreversible stunning before processing, which directly enhances product consistency and tenderness while meeting the ethical sourcing requirements of major retailers. According to Perdue Farms, July 2024, in the 'Creating a Culture of Animal Care' report, the company successfully activated its second chicken Controlled Atmosphere Stunning (CAS) system at its Dillon, South Carolina facility, demonstrating the industry's active investment in higher-welfare processing infrastructure.

Concurrently, the deployment of chemical-free and water-efficient sanitation solutions has become a critical priority as manufacturers seek to minimize environmental impact and reduce operational utility costs. Equipment providers are engineering advanced wastewater treatment systems and closed-loop filtration units that allow processing plants to reclaim and reuse significant volumes of water previously lost during defeathering and evisceration. This focus on resource stewardship is essential for meeting stringent environmental regulations and achieving corporate sustainability targets without reducing line speeds or compromising hygiene. According to Wayne-Sanderson Farms, September 2024, in the '2024 Corporate Responsibility Report', the company utilized new wastewater technologies to divert approximately 1.25 billion gallons of water back to groundwater sources throughout 2023, underscoring the scale at which major processors are adopting conservation technologies.

Segmental Insights

Based on recent industry analysis, the Raw Cooked segment is identified as the fastest-growing category within the Global Poultry Processing Equipment Market. This rapid expansion is primarily driven by shifting consumer lifestyles that favor convenient, value-added protein products such as sausages, luncheon meats, and patties. To meet this rising demand, manufacturers are investing in specialized machinery that ensures precise emulsification and product stability. Furthermore, stringent food safety standards enforced by regulatory bodies like the FDA compel processors to adopt advanced equipment capable of maintaining superior hygiene during these critical processing stages, ensuring both extended shelf life and regulatory compliance.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the Global Poultry Processing Equipment Market, driven by established meat consumption habits and a strong demand for processed ready-to-eat food products. This dominance is further supported by strict food safety regulations enforced by the United States Department of Agriculture, which necessitates the adoption of automated machinery to ensure hygiene and compliance. Additionally, rising labor costs and workforce shortages in the manufacturing sector encourage processors to invest in equipment that improves operational efficiency. This combination of regulatory pressure and industrial demand secures the region's primary market status.

Recent Developments

• In January 2025, Ishida Europe collaborated with Maple Leaf Foods to equip a new poultry processing facility in London, Ontario. The project involved the installation of advanced automation solutions, including 12 Flex Grader systems and four RobotGraders, to handle 27,500 birds per hour. These technologies enabled the processor to transition from manual labor to a streamlined, automated operation that produces approximately 270,000 retail trays daily. The collaboration focused on maximizing speed, efficiency, and sustainability within the plant, ensuring high-speed grading and packing while minimizing product giveaway and maintaining stringent food safety standards.
• In September 2024, Meyn detailed the capabilities of its newly launched Inline Trolley Weigher and an advanced quality grading camera system to improve processing performance. This technology was designed to count and weigh individual birds at the start of the production line, providing real-time data to optimize flock weight distribution and production planning. The system allowed processors to identify weight and quality metrics before chilling, thereby enhancing yield and reducing rejects. By utilizing camera vision and artificial intelligence, the equipment offered a solution to monitor animal welfare indicators such as footpad dermatitis, ensuring better compliance with industry standards.
• In April 2024, JBT Corporation executed a definitive transaction agreement to acquire Marel hf., a leading provider of poultry processing solutions. The agreement outlined a voluntary takeover offer for all outstanding shares of the Icelandic company, valuing the deal with a mix of cash and stock. The combined entity was set to be named JBT Marel Corporation, with a commitment to maintaining a significant presence in Iceland. This strategic move aimed to create a comprehensive global technology provider for the food and beverage industry, leveraging complementary product portfolios to enhance solutions for poultry and meat processors worldwide.
• In February 2024, Baader showcased its latest advancements in smart poultry processing at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). The company presented digitalized solutions for slaughtering and evisceration that integrated artificial intelligence and real-time data analytics to improve decision-making. Key highlights included the demonstration of "Smart Slaughtering" and "Smart Evisceration" technologies, which utilize vision systems to monitor performance and optimize yield per bird. Additionally, the company emphasized its expanded digital capabilities following the acquisition of Emydex Technology, offering processors enhanced traceability, quality control, and production management software to meet evolving industry demands.

Key Market Players

• Marel HF
• Key Technology, Inc.
• John Bean Technologies Corporation
• CTB, Inc.
• Baader Food Processing Machinery, Inc.
• Brower Equipment
• Bayle S.A.
• Prime Equipment Group, Inc.
• CG Manufacturing and Distribution Limited
• Prime Equipment Group Inc.

By Equipment Type	By Poultry Type	By Product Type	By Region
Killing & Defeathering Evisceration Cut Up Deboning & Skinning Marinating & Tumbling and Others	Chicken Meat Turkey Meat Duck Meat and Others	Fresh Processed Raw Cooked Pre-Cooked Raw Fermented Sausages Cured Dried and Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Poultry Processing Equipment Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Poultry Processing Equipment Market, By Equipment Type:

• Killing & Defeathering
• Evisceration
• Cut Up
• Deboning & Skinning
• Marinating & Tumbling and Others

• Poultry Processing Equipment Market, By Poultry Type:

• Chicken Meat
• Turkey Meat
• Duck Meat and Others

• Poultry Processing Equipment Market, By Product Type:

• Fresh Processed
• Raw Cooked
• Pre-Cooked
• Raw Fermented Sausages
• Cured
• Dried and Others

• Poultry Processing Equipment Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE