Recent Facts on the Global Halal Market and the Role of Halal Certification

GENEVA - Nov. 27, 2015 - PRLog -- With the Muslim world showing rapid population growth, economic development, and increased disposable income, the global halal market now accounts for 16% of the entire global food industry. With no single worldwide industry standard for certification of halal products, SGS’s partnership with the Halal Authority Board (HAB) provides a strong option for halal certification and training which can be delivered anywhere in the world.

According to a recent report, published by the World Halal Forum, global trade in halal food and beverages is currently estimated to be worth around ca. USD 1.4 trillion annually¹. With Islam now considered to be the second largest religion, and the fastest growing, Muslims are soon expected to represent the largest share of global consumer spending².

It has been reported that the halal market is currently worth 16% of the entire global food industry and is predicted to rise to 20% in the near future – with Asia, Africa and Europe accounting for 63%, 24% and 10% respectively³. Although no official figures have been provided, the halal market is estimated to contribute between 40 and 100 billion EURO to the European Economy².

Population Expansion Drives Growth
The main drivers of halal growth have been: a growing Muslim population, economic growth within the Muslim world, and increased disposable income¹.

For reasons of religious observance, halal meat is the preferred meat of Muslims. It has been shown that 75% of Muslims living in the US and 84% of Muslims in France, always eat halal meat. In addition to its religious value, consumers are attracted by some of the central tenets in Islam: to preserve life, to safeguard future generations and to maintain self-respect and integrity. In addition to this, health, respect for animal welfare and a degree of acculturation have also been noted as important drivers⁴.

The rapid growth in halal meat sales mirrors the growth in the Muslim population - recently estimated to account for 26% of the global population. Recent data has shown that, between 2009 and 2014, countries with a predominantly Muslim population have seen substantial increases in fresh meat sales – the United Arab Emirates reported growth of 33%, Egypt reported 28% growth, and Morocco reported 19%. Asia Pacific, Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia also shared significant growth in fresh meat sales of up to 54%². The majority of meat sold, if not all, is considered to be halal by default; any non-halal meat is clearly labelled to cater for the non-Muslim population.

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