Stocks of frozen and chilled meats in cold storage facilities totalled 134 689 tonnes as of January 1, 2025, a 6.2% increase compared with October 1, 2024. On an annual basis, this represented an increase of 5.2% from January 1, 2024.
Stocks of frozen and chilled pork (81 421 tonnes) made up the largest proportion of frozen and chilled meats in cold storage facilities in Canada as of January 1, 2025, followed by stocks of frozen and chilled beef (36 447 tonnes).
Chart 1: Canadian quarterly stocks of frozen and chilled meats
Description - Chart 1
Data table: Canadian quarterly stocks of frozen and chilled meats
Note: As a result of rounding, provincial data may not add up to totals.
Sources: Tables 32-10-0137-01 and 32-10-0477-01.
As of January 1, 2025, stocks of frozen and chilled pork in cold storage facilities were up 5.5%, compared with October 1, 2024. Increased hog slaughter in the fourth quarter (October to December), compared with the previous quarter (July to September), may have contributed to this growth. Stocks of frozen and chilled pork were also up (+4.7%) from January 1, 2024.
Stocks of frozen and chilled beef in cold storage facilities increased 8.9% as of January 1, 2025, compared with October 1, 2024. Higher imports and fewer exports throughout 2024, compared with 2023, may have contributed to this increase. As of January 1, 2025, stocks of frozen and chilled beef remained 3.9% higher than those seen on January 1, 2024.
At the national level, Quebec held 45.8% (37 313 tonnes) of the stocks of frozen and chilled pork as of January 1, 2025, while Ontario held 49.1% (17 904 tonnes) of the stocks of frozen and chilled beef.
Chart 2: Quarterly stocks of frozen and chilled pork meats, by province
Description - Chart 2
Data table: Quarterly stocks of frozen and chilled pork meats, by province
Note: As a result of rounding, provincial data may not add up to totals.
Sources: Tables 32-10-0137-01 and 32-10-0477-01.
Chart 3: Quarterly stocks of frozen and chilled beef meats, by province
Description - Chart 3
Data table: Quarterly stocks of frozen and chilled beef meats, by province
x suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act
Notes: Data for Alberta and "Other provinces" for the second quarter of 2020 have been suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act. As a result of these suppressions, as well as rounding, provincial data may not add up to totals.
Sources: Tables 32-10-0137-01 and 32-10-0477-01.
Note to readers
Starting with the January 1, 2025, reference period, the data from the Stocks of Frozen and Chilled Meats Survey will be collected and disseminated on an annual basis.
This release contains national data on stock holdings for various cuts of pork, beef, veal, mutton and lamb and for fancy meats, as well as regional data for total red meats. This release also includes data on the holdings of imported meats at the national level.
For the latest information on the Census of Agriculture, visit the Census of Agriculture portal.
For more information on agriculture and food, visit the Agriculture and food statistics portal.
Reference
Data tables: 32-10-0477-01 and 32-10-0478-01.
- Note: some data tables may best be viewed on desktop.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3423.
Previous release: Stocks of frozen and chilled meats, October 1, 2024.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).