The overall cost of beef imports rose 19.8% for all importing countries since 2015 when beef purchases were valued at $41.6 billion. Year over year, globally imported beef increased in cost by 5.6% from 2018 to 2019.
By meat type, global imports of frozen beef (53.3%) in 2019 eclipsed that for fresh or chilled beef (46.7%).
From a continental perspective, buyers in Asian countries consumed the highest dollar worth of imported beef during 2019 with purchases valued at $23.9 billion or 48% of the global total. In second place were European importers at 30.7% while 14.3% of worldwide beef imports were delivered to North America.
Smaller percentages were imported into Latin America (4.1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (2.6%) then Oceania (0.3%) led by French Polynesia and New Zealand.
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 2019, regardless of whether fresh, chilled or frozen.
- China: US$8.2 billion (16.5% of total beef imports)
- United States: $5.6 billion (11.2%)
- Japan: $3.5 billion (7.1%)
- South Koreaf: $2.9 billion (5.9%)
- Netherlands: $2.2 billion (4.4%)
- Italy: $2.18 billion (4.4%)
- Germany: $2.12 billion (4.2%)
- Hong Kong: $1.8 billion (3.6%)
- Vietnam: $1.54 billion (3.1%)
- France: $1.43 billion (2.9%)
- United Kingdom: $1.3 billion (2.5%)
- Chile: $1.1 billion (2.1%)
- Russia: $1.05 billion (2.1%)
- Taiwan: $1.01 billion (2%)
- Mexico: $815.4 million (1.6%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing beef importers since 2015 were: Vietnam (up 997.1%), China (up 254.6%), South Korea (up 61%) and Taiwan (up 45.8%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imported beef purchases were led by: Russia (down -27.1%), United Kingdom (down -19.5%), United States (down -12.6%) and Mexico (down -5.8%).
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 73.8% of all beef imported in 2019.
Fresh/Chilled
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of fresh or chilled beef during 2019. Purchases for all fresh or chilled beef importers totaled $23.3 billion, increasing in cost by 11.1% since 2015 but dropping -3.6% from 2018 to 2019.
- United States: US$3.4 billion (14.8% of imported fresh or chilled beef)
- Japan: $2.1 billion (9.1%)
- Italy: $1.91 billion (8.2%)
- Netherlands: $1.87 billion (8%)
- Germany: $1.83 billion (7.9%)
- France: $1.1 billion (4.8%)
- United Kingdom: $984.6 million (4.2%)
- Chile: $951.6 million (4.1%)
- South Korea: $868.1 million (3.7%)
- Mexico: $770.5 million (3.3%)
- Spain: $612 million (2.6%)
- Portugal: $551.2 million (2.4%)
- Canada: $503.6 million (2.2%)
- Greece: $477.2 million (2%)
- Denmark: $434.2 million (1.9%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing fresh or chilled beef importers since 2015 were: South Korea (up 92%), Japan (up 41%), Portugal (up 41%) and Chile (up 27.2%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imported fresh or chilled beef purchases were led by: United Kingdom (down -25.2%), Canada (down -24.2%), Denmark (down -13.7%) and Mexico (down -6.1%).
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 79.2% of all fresh or chilled beef imported in 2019.
Frozen
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of frozen beef during 2019. Purchases for all frozen beef importers totaled $26.6 billion, increasing in cost by 28.5% since 2015 and accelerated 15.2% from 2018 to 2019.
- China: US$7.9 billion (29.9% of total imported frozen beef)
- United States: $2.2 billion (8.1%)
- South Koreaf: $2.1 billion (7.7%)
- Hong Kong: $1.6 billion (6.2%)
- Vietnam: $1.5 billion (5.7%)
- Japan: $1.4 billion (5.3%)
- Russia: $806.3 million (3%)
- Egypt: $765.4 million (2.9%)
- Taiwan: $631.6 million (2.4%)
- Indonesia: $609.3 million (2.3%)
- Israel: $456.2 million (1.7%)
- Malaysia: $445.9 million (1.7%)
- Philippines: $403.4 million (1.5%)
- United Arab Emirates: $351 million (1.3%)
- Netherlands: $336.8 million (1.3%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing frozen beef importers since 2015 were: Vietnam (up 1,061%), China (up 249.3%), Indonesia (up 183.2%) and the United Arab Emirates (up 71.8%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imported frozen beef purchases were led by: Egypt (down -47%), United States (down -38.4%), Russia (down -27.4%) and Malaysia (down -16.9%).
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 81% of all frozen beef imported in 2019.
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 and Pork Exports by Country
Research Sources:
Alibaba, Supplier showroom for beef. Accessed on May 25, 2020
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on May 25, 2020
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 25, 2020
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 25, 2020
