Among continents, European countries accounted for the highest dollar worth of beef exported during 2019 with shipments valuated at $13.9 billion or over one-quarter (26.9%) of the global total. In second place was Latin America (25.6%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, ahead of worldwide beef shipments originating from North America (20.3%). Trailing those continental sources were beef exporters from Oceania (19.4%) led by Australia and New Zealand. Smaller percentages track back to exporters in Asia (7.4%) and Africa (0.5%).
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefixes are 0201 for fresh or chilled beef and 0202 for frozen beef.
In 2019, the value of exported fresh or chilled beef amounted to $24.1 billion, eclipsed by the $27.6 billion for frozen beef. The latter subcategory accounts for 53.4% of overall globally exported beef compared to 46.6% for fresh or chilled beef.
And while the value of fresh or chilled beef exports increased by 13.2% from 2015 to 2019, the comparable metric for frozen beef shipments accelerated by 21.7% over the 5-year period.
Top Beef Exporting Countries
Total Beef
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of beef regardless of whether fresh, chilled or frozen during 2019.
- Australia: US$7.6 billion (14.8% of total beef exports)
- United States of America: $6.9 billion (13.4%)
- Brazil: $6.5 billion (12.6%)
- Netherlands: $3.2 billion (6.1%)
- India: $3.1 billion (6%)
- Argentina: $3.1 billion (6%)
- New Zealand: $2.4 billion (4.6%)
- Canada: $2.18 billion (4.2%)
- Ireland: $2.15 billion (4.2%)
- Uruguay: $1.8 billion (3.6%)
- Poland: $1.6 billion (3%)
- Mexico: $1.4 billion (2.7%)
- Germany: $1.3 billion (2.6%)
- France: $1.03 billion (2%)
- Paraguay: $1.02 billion (2%)
The listed 15 countries shipped 87.7% of all beef exported in 2019.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing beef exporters since 2015 were: Argentina (up 259.6%), Canada (up 42.5%), Brazil (up 39.2%) and the United States (up 33.7%).
Three countries posted declines in their exported beef sales namely India (down -23.8%), Paraguay (down -8.8%) and Germany (down -8.7%).
Fresh/Chilled
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of fresh or chilled beef during 2019.
- United States: US$3.5 billion (14.6% of exported fresh or chilled beef)
- Netherlands: $2.8 billion (11.7%)
- Australia: $2.7 billion (11.2%)
- Ireland: $1.8 billion (7.5%)
- Canada: $1.77 billion (7.3%)
- Mexico: $1.22 billion (5%)
- Poland: $1.15 billion (4.8%)
- Germany: $1.13 billion (4.7%)
- France: $971.5 million (4%)
- Brazil: $880.8 million (3.7%)
- Argentina: $771.9 million (3.2%)
- Spain: $685.1 million (2.8%)
- Belgium: $635.3 million (2.6%)
- United Kingdom: $481.3 million (2%)
- Paraguay: $467.7 million (1.9%)
The listed 15 countries shipped 87.2% of all fresh or chilled beef exported in 2019.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing fresh or chilled beef exporters since 2015 were: Argentina (up 52.3%), Canada (up 51.3%), United States (up 32.6%) and Spain (up 29.5%).
Two countries posted declines in their exported fresh or chilled beef sales namely Germany (down -13.2%) and Belgium (down -8.5%).
Frozen
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of frozen beef during 2019.
- Brazil: US$5.6 billion (20.3% of total exported frozen beef)
- Australia: $4.9 billion (17.9%)
- United States: $3.4 billion (12.3%)
- India: $3.1 billion (11.2%)
- Argentina: $2.3 billion (8.5%)
- New Zealand: $2.1 billion (7.5%)
- Uruguay: $1.5 billion (5.5%)
- Paraguay: $555.5 million (2%)
- Canada: $413.5 million (1.5%)
- Poland: $409.8 million (1.5)
- Ireland: $343.1 million (1.2%)
- Netherlands: $335.6 million (1.2%)
- Nicaragua: $300.2 million (1.1%)
- Hong Kong: $276.2 million (1%)
- Germany: $219.9 million (0.8%)
The listed 15 countries shipped 93.5% of all frozen beef exported in 2019.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing frozen beef exporters since 2015 were: Argentina (up 553.9%), Ireland (up 78.1%), Netherlands (up 56.4%) and Poland (up 41.8%).
Three countries posted declines in their exported frozen beef sales were namely India (down -23.6%), Paraguay (down -15.7%) and Hong Kong (down -4.3%).
Companies
Beef Exporting Companies
According to global trading platform Alibaba, the following suppliers actively participate in the international trade of fresh, chilled and frozen beef. Shown within parenthesis is the home-country location for each business:
- Agro Expedition International (Netherlands)
- Cargill (United States)
- Carmelita Export-Import Limited (Ireland)
- Imam Halal Meats New Zealand Ltd (New Zealand)
- Prime Foods International Inc (Canada)
- Ricardo Schneider SS Trade Importacao Exportacao (Brazil)
- Rodriguez Gonzalez Medardo (Uruguay)
- SIBA International (India)
- Tropicana Food And Beverages Gmbh (Germany)
- Yass Valley Beef (Australia)
See also Big Export Sales for Frozen Shrimps, Chicken Exports by Country, Pork Exports by Country and Top Sheep and Lamb Meat Exports
Research Sources:
Alibaba, Supplier showroom for beef. Accessed on April 27, 2020
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on April 27, 2020
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on April 27, 2020
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on April 27, 2020
Wikipedia, Beef. Accessed on April 27, 2020