The overall value of beef imports accelerated by 43.5% for all importing countries since 2018 when beef purchases were valued at $46.9 billion.
Year over year, globally imported beef inflated in overall cost by 14.8% compared to $58.7 billion for 2021.
The 5 biggest importers of fresh, chilled and frozen beef (inclusive) are mainland China, United States of America, South Korea, Japan and Egypt. Collectively, that powerful cohort of major beef buyers bought almost three-fifths (57.7%) of globally imported beef.
By meat type, global imports of frozen beef (57.8% overall) in 2022 expanding in comparison to–and outpaced–fresh or chilled beef (42.2%).
From a continental perspective, buyers in Asian countries consumed the highest dollar worth of imported beef during 2022 with purchases valued at $35.6 billion or 52.8% of the global total. In second place were European importers at 26.2% while another 14.4% of worldwide beef imports were delivered to customers in North America.
Smaller percentages were imported into Latin America (4.1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (2%), then Oceania (0.3%) led by French Polynesia, Australia 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
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of beef during 2022, inclusive of fresh, chilled and frozen beef.
- China: US$22 billion (32.6% of total beef imports)
- United States: $5.2 billion (7.7%)
- South Korea: $5 billion (7.4%)
- Japan: $3.9 billion (5.7%)
- Egypt: $2.9 billion (4.3%)
- Taiwan: $2.4 billion (3.5%)
- Indonesia: $2.2 billion (3.2%)
- Israel: $2 billion (2.9%)
- Vietnam: $1.8 billion (2.7%)
- Malaysia: $1.43 billion (2.1%)
- Hong Kong: $1.37 billion (2%)
- Philippines: $1.32 billion (2%)
- Russia: $1.21 billion (1.8%)
- France: $1.21 billion (1.8%)
- United Kingdom: $1.1 billion (1.6%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped about three-quarters (81.3%) of all beef imported in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing beef importers since 2018 were: mainland China (up 184.5%), Indonesia (up 52.8%), Israel (up 41.8%) and Taiwan (up 38.3%).
Two major buyer countries posted declines in their imported beef purchases, namely Hong Kong (down -48.4% from 2018) and Egypt (down -12.1%).
Top Fresh or Chilled Beef Importers
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of fresh or chilled beef during 2022. Purchases for all fresh or chilled beef importers totaled $28.4 billion, increasing in total cost by 18.8% from $23.9 billion in 2018 and slowing to a 2.6% gain compared to $27.7 billion during 2021.
- China: US$4.9 billion (17.1% of imported fresh or chilled beef)
- United States: $2.2 billion (7.6%)
- South Korea: $2.11 billion (7.4%)
- Japan: $1.94 billion (6.8%)
- Egypt: $1.9 billion (6.5%)
- Taiwan: $1.5 billion (5.3%)
- Indonesia: $1.4 billion (4.8%)
- Israel: $1.26 billion (4.4%)
- Vietnam: $1.1 billion (3.8%)
- Malaysia: $739.9 million (2.6%)
- Hong Kong: $709.1 million (2.5%)
- Philippines: $681.3 million (2.4%)
- Russia: $673.8 million (2.4%)
- France: $669.4 million (2.4%)
- United Kingdom: $590.1 million (2.1%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped nearly four-fifths (78.2%) of all fresh or chilled beef imported in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing importers of fresh or chilled beef since 2018 were: Russia (up 393.4%), mainland China (up 59.5%), Indonesia (up 58.5%) and Taiwan (up 33.9%).
A trio of major buyer countries posted declines in their purchases of imported fresh or chilled beef, namely by: Egypt (down -11.7% from 2018), Vietnam (down -9.3%) and Malaysia (down -7.8%).
Top Frozen Beef Importers
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of frozen beef during 2022. Purchases for all frozen beef importers totaled $38.9 billion, increasing in total cost by 69.2% from $23 billion in 2018 and accelerating 25.8% compared to $31 billion for 2021.
- China: US$17.1 billion (43.9% of imported frozen beef)
- United States: $3 billion (7.8%)
- South Korea: $2.9 billion (7.4%)
- Japan: $1.9 billion (4.9%)
- Egypt: $1 billion (2.6%)
- Taiwan: $852.4 million (2.2%)
- Indonesia: $813.7 million (2.1%)
- Israel: $712.7 million (1.8%)
- Vietnam: $710.1 million (1.8%)
- Malaysia: $694.4 million (1.8%)
- Hong Kong: $659.8 million (1.7%)
- Philippines: $642.1 million (1.6%)
- Russia: $540.2 million (1.4%)
- France: $536.3 million (1.4%)
- United Kingdom: $462.3 million (1.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped over four-fifths (83.5%) of all frozen beef imported in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing importers of frozen beef since 2018 were: mainland China (up 266%), Vietnam (up 210.2%), Israel (up 79.6%) and South Korea (up 56.9%).
Three countries posted declines in their purchases of imported frozen beef, namely: Hong Kong (down -68.5% from 2018), Russia (down -39.5%) and Egypt (down -12.8%).
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 August 30, 2023
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on August 30, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 30, 2023
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on August 30, 2023
