The overall value of beef imports grew by 39.1% for all importing countries from five years earlier in 2020 when beef purchases were valued at $50.2 billion.
Year over year, globally imported beef inflated in total cost by 10.5% compared to $63.2 billion starting from 2023.
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 almost half (48.9%) of globally imported beef.
By meat type, global imports of frozen beef (53.5% overall) in 2024 compared to fresh or chilled beef (46.5%).
From a continental perspective, buyers in Asian countries consumed the highest dollar worth of imported beef during 2024 with purchases valued at $32.2 billion or 46.1% of the global total. In second place were importers based in Europe at 27.4% while another 19.4% of worldwide beef imports was delivered to customers in North America.
Smaller percentages were imported into Latin America (4.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (2.6%), then Oceania (0.2%) led by New Zealand, French Polynesia 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 2024, inclusive of fresh, chilled and frozen beef.
- mainland China: US$13.7 billion (19.6% of total beef imports)
- United States: $10.8 billion (15.4%)
- South Korea: $3.7 billion (5.3%)
- Japan: $3.1 billion (4.5%)
- Italy: $2.8 billion (4.1%)
- Germany: $2.5 billion (3.6%)
- Netherlands: $2.3 billion (3.3%)
- France: $2.1 billion (2.9%)
- United Kingdom: $1.8 billion (2.5%)
- Mexico: $1.44 billion (2.1%)
- Chile: $1.43 billion (2.1%)
- United Arab Emirates: $1.37 billion (2%)
- Canada: $1.32 billion (1.9%)
- Taiwan: $1.3 billion (1.9%)
- Spain: $1.1 billion (1.6%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped approaching three-quarters (72.7%) of all beef imported in 2024.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing beef importers since 2020 were: United Arab Emirates (up 125.4%), Mexico (up 123.1%), Spain (up 94.2%) and France (up 72.6%).
Japan was the lone top competitor to reduce its imported beef purchases, recording a -6.2% slowdown.
Top Fresh or Chilled Beef Importers
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of fresh or chilled beef during 2024. Purchases for all fresh or chilled beef importers totaled $32.5 billion, increasing in total cost by 42.7% from $22.8 billion in 2020 and gaining 9.5% compared to $29.6 billion during 2023.
- United States of America: US$5.9 billion (18.1% of imported fresh or chilled beef)
- Italy: $2.5 billion (7.7%)
- Germany: $2.2 billion (6.6%)
- Netherlands: $2 billion (6.2%)
- Japan: $1.6 billion (4.9%)
- France: $1.59 billion (4.9%)
- United Kingdom: $1.32 billion (4.1%)
- South Korea: $1.27 billion (3.9%)
- Chile: $1.26 billion (3.9%)
- Mexico: $1.1 billion (3.5%)
- Spain: $903.7 million (2.8%)
- Canada: $841.6 million (2.6%)
- Portugal: $837 million (2.6%)
- mainland China: $800.3 million (2.5%)
- Greece: $678 million (2.1%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped over three-quarters (76.3%) of all fresh or chilled beef imported in 2024.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing fresh or chilled beef importers since 2020 were: mainland China (up 96.3%), Spain (up 93.9%), Mexico (up 86.9%) and France (up 72.8%).
Japan was the sole top buyer of imported fresh or chilled beef to record an -18.7% decline over the 5-year timespan.
Top Frozen Beef Importers
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of frozen beef during 2024. Purchases for all frozen beef importers totaled $37.4 billion, increasing in total cost by 36.1% from $27.5 billion in 2020 and accelerating by 11.4% compared to $33.6 billion for 2023.
- mainland China: US$12.9 billion (34.5% of imported frozen beef)
- United States: $4.9 billion (13.1%)
- South Korea: $2.5 billion (6.6%)
- Japan: $1.5 billion (4.1%)
- Egypt: $911.9 million (2.4%)
- Vietnam: $864.8 million (2.3%)
- United Arab Emirates: $855.2 million (2.3%)
- Taiwan: $798.7 million (2.1%)
- Hong Kong: $725.3 million (1.9%)
- Malaysia: $724.1 million (1.9%)
- Israel: $653.1 million (1.7%)
- Indonesia: $640.9 million (1.7%)
- Saudi Arabia: $625.6 million (1.7%)
- Philippines: $624.3 million (1.7%)
- Canada: $474.1 million (1.3%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped nearly four-fifths (79.3%) of all frozen beef imported in 2024.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing frozen beef importers since 2020 were: United Arab Emirates (up 203%), Saudi Arabia (up 117.8%), Vietnam (up 103.3%) and the United States of America (up 82.6%).
The pair of top buyer countries that posted declines in their imported frozen beef purchases was Hong Kong (down -56.4% from 2020) and Egypt (down -29.1%).
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 June 29, 2025
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on June 29, 2025
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on June 29, 2025
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on June 29, 2025