The overall value of beef imports accelerated by 25.6% for all importing countries from five years earlier in 2019 when beef purchases were valued at $50 billion.
Year over year, globally imported beef dropped in overall cost by -7.8% compared to $68.2 billion starting from 2022.
The 5 biggest importers of fresh, chilled and frozen beef (inclusive) are mainland China, United States of America, South Korea, Japan and Italy. Collectively, that powerful cohort of major beef buyers bought around half (50.9%) of globally imported beef.
By meat type, global imports of frozen beef (53.4% overall) in 2023 compared to fresh or chilled beef (46.6%).
From a continental perspective, buyers in Asian countries consumed the highest dollar worth of imported beef during 2023 with purchases valued at $30.2 billion or 48% of the global total. In second place were European importers at 28.1% while another 17.2% of worldwide beef imports was delivered to customers in North America.
Smaller percentages were imported into Latin America (4.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (1.9%), then Oceania (0.2%) led by French Polynesia, New Zealand and Australia.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefixes are 0201 for fresh or chilled beef and 0202 for frozen beef.
Top Beef Importing Countries
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of beef during 2023, inclusive of fresh, chilled and frozen beef.
- mainland China: US$14.2 billion (22.6% of total beef imports)
- United States: $8.6 billion (13.6%)
- South Korea: $3.6 billion (5.7%)
- Japan: $2.9 billion (4.7%)
- Italy: $2.7 billion (4.3%)
- Germany: $2.4 billion (3.8%)
- Netherlands: $2.2 billion (3.4%)
- France: $2 billion (3.2%)
- United Kingdom: $1.5 billion (2.5%)
- Chile: $1.4 billion (2.3%)
- Taiwan: $1.2 billion (2%)
- Mexico: $1.11 billion (1.8%)
- Canada: $1.1 billion (1.8%)
- United Arab Emirates: $1 billion (1.6%)
- Spain: $963.7 million (1.5%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped about three-quarters (74.6%) of all beef imported in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing beef importers since 2019 were: mainland China (up 72.9%), Canada (up 53.2%), United States of America (up 52.9%) and France (up 39.8%).
Japan was the sole buyer country to post a decline in imported beef purchases, recording a -17% slowdown from 2022.
Top Fresh or Chilled Beef Importers
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of fresh or chilled beef during 2023. Purchases for all fresh or chilled beef importers totaled $29.3 billion, increasing in total cost by 24.6% from $23.5 billion in 2019 and slowing to a 1.9% gain compared to $28.7 billion during 2022.
- United States: US$5.3 billion (18.3% of imported fresh or chilled beef)
- Italy: $2 billion (8%)
- Germany: $23 billion (6.9%)
- Netherlands: $1.9 billion (6.5%)
- Japan: $1.6 billion (5.4%)
- France: $1.5 billion (5.2%)
- South Korea: $1.25 billion (4.3%)
- Chile: $1.25 billion (4.3%)
- United Kingdom: $1.18 billion (4%)
- Mexico: $992.9 million (3.4%)
- Spain: $788.9 million (2.7%)
- Canada: $767.3 million (2.6%)
- Portugal: $743.3 million (2.5%)
- mainland China: $741.4 million (2.5%)
- Greece: $610.5 million (2.1%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped nearly four-fifths (78.7%) of all fresh or chilled beef imported in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing fresh or chilled beef importers since 2019 were: mainland China (up 150%), United States of America (up 55.3%), Canada (up 52.4%) and South Korea (up 44.4%).
Japan posted a decline in its purchases of imported fresh or chilled beef purchases, down -26.1% from 2022.
Top Frozen Beef Importers
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of frozen beef during 2023. Purchases for all frozen beef importers totaled $33.6 billion, increasing in total cost by 26.4% from $26.6 billion in 2019 but falling by -14.9% compared to $39.4 billion for 2022.
- mainland China: US$13.5 billion (40.2% of imported frozen beef)
- United States: $3.2 billion (9.6%)
- South Korea: $2.3 billion (7%)
- Japan: $1.4 billion (4%)
- Egypt: $809.6 million (2.4%)
- Vietnam: $794.2 million (2.4%)
- Taiwan: $740.4 million (2.2%)
- Indonesia: $716 million (2.1%)
- Hong Kong: $672 million (2%)
- Malaysia: $644.3 million (1.9%)
- United Arab Emirates: $566.6 million (1.7%)
- Saudi Arabia: $486.6 million (1.5%)
- France: $482.1 million (1.4%)
- Philippines: $464.7 million (1.4%)
- Israel: $439.2 million (1.3%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped over four-fifths (81.1%) of all frozen beef imported in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing frozen beef importers since 2019 were: Vietnam (up 142.2%), Saudi Arabia (up 76.3%), mainland China (up 70%) and France (up 49.8%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imported frozen beef purchases were led by: Hong Kong (down -58.9% from 2022), Egypt (down -43.2%), United Arab Emirates (down -12%) and Israel (down -3.8%).
Beef Import/Export Companies
According to global trading platform Alibaba, the following companies participate in the international trade of beef or beef-related products. Shown within parenthesis is the home-country location for each business.
- AA Seafoods (Pakistan)
- Afro Asia for Import and Export (Sudan)
- Al-Zoya Overseas Private Limited (India)
- Carmelita Export-Import Limited (Ireland)
- Manka Import and Export Pty Ltd (South Africa)
- MBI Import and Export Pty Ltd (Belgium)
- NCC Import Export Company Limited (Vietnam)
- PFTAGG Export Company Pty Ltd (Australia)
- RAB Import Export (United States)
- Shanghai Hansen Global Supply (China)
See also Top Beef Exporting Countries, Chicken Exports by Country, Pork Exports by Country, Top Goat Meat Exports by Country and Most Valuable Red Meat Import Markets by Country
Research Sources:
Alibaba, Supplier showroom for beef. Accessed on September 15, 2024
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on September 15, 2024
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 15, 2024
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on September 15, 2024