The overall value of beef imports rose 27.7% for all importing countries since 2016 when beef purchases were valued at $38.9 billion.
From 2019 to 2020, globally imported beef depreciated by -1%.
The 5 biggest importers of beef (fresh, chilled or frozen combined) are China, United States, Japan, South Korea and Germany. Collectively, this cohort of beef buyers account for half (50.1%) of globally imported beef.
By meat type, global imports of frozen beef (54.7%) in 2020 eclipsed that for fresh or chilled beef (45.3%). Slowly but surely, the annual percentage of frozen beef continues to grow.
From a continental perspective, buyers in Asian countries consumed the highest dollar worth of imported beef during 2020 with purchases valued at $24.4 billion or 49.1% of the global total. In second place were European importers at 27.3% while 16.1% of worldwide beef imports were delivered to customers in North America.
Smaller percentages were imported into Latin America (3.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (3.2%) then Oceania (0.3%) led by French Polynesia and New Caledonia.
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
Total Beef
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of beef during 2020, regardless of whether fresh, chilled or frozen.
- China: US$10.2 billion (20.5% of total beef imports)
- United States: $6.4 billion (13%)
- Japan: $3.3 billion (6.7%)
- South Korea: $2.9 billion (5.8%)
- Germany: $2.03 billion (4.1%)
- Italy: $1.99 billion (4.0%)
- Hong Kong: $1.83 billion (3.7%)
- Netherlands: $1.68 billion (3.4%)
- Egypt: $1.25 billion (2.5%)
- United Kingdom: $1.24 billion (2.5%)
- France: $1.18 billion (2.4%)
- Chile: $1.06 billion (2.1%)
- Taiwan: $1.06 billion (2.1%)
- Russia: $932.1 million (1.9%)
- Canada: $922 million (1.9%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing beef importers since 2016 were: China (up 304.7%), Taiwan (up 40.2%), South Korea (up 38.5%) and the United States of America (up 29.4%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imported beef purchases were led by: Russia (down -16.9%), United Kingdom (down -9.9%), France (down -9.4%) and the Netherlands (down -8.6%).
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 76.6% of all beef imported in 2020.
Fresh/Chilled
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of fresh or chilled beef during 2020. Purchases for all fresh or chilled beef importers totaled $22.5 billion, increasing in cost by 9% since 2016 but dropping -3.9% from 2019 to 2020.
- United States: US$3.7 billion (16.7% of imported fresh or chilled beef)
- Japan: $2 billion (8.7%)
- Germany: $1.8 billion (7.9%)
- Italy: $1.7 billion (7.6%)
- Netherlands: $1.4 billion (6.2%)
- South Korea: $978.9 million (4.4%)
- United Kingdom: $951.2 million (4.2%)
- Chile: $950.1 million (4.2%)
- France: $913 million (4.1%)
- Mexico: $601.5 million (2.7%)
- Canada: $592.4 million (2.6%)
- Portugal: $483.8 million (2.2%)
- Greece: $471.6 million (2.1%)
- Spain: $465.9 million (2.1%)
- Taiwan: $430.2 million (1.9%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing fresh or chilled beef importers since 2016 were: South Korea (up 78.9%), Taiwan (up 62.9%), United States (up 36.9%) and Japan (up 18.2%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imported fresh or chilled beef purchases were led by: Spain (down -20.4%), United Kingdom (down -15.9%), Mexico (down -12.7%) and the Netherlands (down -12.7%).
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 77.5% of all fresh or chilled beef imported in 2020.
Frozen
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of frozen beef during 2020. Purchases for all frozen beef importers totaled $27.1 billion, increasing in cost by 48.9% since 2016 and gained 1.5% from 2019 to 2020.
- China: US$9.8 billion (36% of total imported frozen beef)
- United States: $2.7 billion (9.9%)
- South Korea: $1.9 billion (7.1%)
- Hong Kong: $1.7 billion (6.1%)
- Japan: $1.4 billion (5.1%)
- Egypt: $1.2 billion (4.6%)
- Russia: $707.9 million (2.6%)
- Taiwan: $628.1 million (2.3%)
- Indonesia: $559.3 million (2.1%)
- Malaysia: $490.5 million (1.8%)
- Vietnam: $425.4 million (1.6%)
- Israel: $409.9 million (1.5%)
- Philippines: $357.2 million (1.3%)
- Canada: $329.6 million (1.2%)
- Saudi Arabia: $287.2 million (1.1%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing frozen beef importers since 2016 were: China (up 297%), Vietnam (up 164.9%), Japan (up 38.9%) and Taiwan (up 28%).
A pair of countries posted declines in their imported frozen beef purchases namely Israel (down -15.7%) and Russia (down -14.8%).
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 84.2% of all frozen beef imported in 2020.
Companies
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 and Most Valuable Red Meat Import Markets by Country
Research Sources:
Alibaba, Supplier showroom for beef. Accessed on August 12, 2021
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on August 12, 2021
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 12, 2021
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on August 12, 2021
