Who Is the Biggest Beef Exporter in the World

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Overall beef exports were worth an estimated US$41.3 billion in 2020. That dollar amount represents a 20.9% increase for global beef shippers over the five-year period starting in 2016.

Year over year, the value of international beef sales declined by -4.2% from 2019 to 2020.

From a continental perspective, Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean earned the highest dollar amount for exporting all types of beef during 2020. Those Latin American shipments were worth $13.8 billion or over one quarter (27.7%) of the global total.

In second place at 25.7% were European countries, ahead of worldwide beef shipments originating from North America (20.6%). Trailing those continental sources were beef exporters from Oceania (18.5%) led by Australia and New Zealand. Smaller percentages track back to exporters in Asia (7%) and Africa (0.5%).

The value of exported fresh or chilled beef in 2020 amounted to $23.3 billion, eclipsed by the $26.6 billion for frozen beef. The latter subcategory accounts for 53.3% of overall globally exported beef compared to 46.7% for fresh or chilled beef.

And while the value of fresh or chilled beef exports decreased by -2.8% from 2019 to 2020, the comparable metric for frozen beef shipments accelerated by 32.7% over the same time span.

The world's biggest exporter of frozen beef is Brazil generating one quarter of worldwide frozen beef shipments.

The top exporters for fresh or chilled beef are the United States and Australia supplying around one quarter of global fresh or chilled beef.

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 Exporting Countries

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of beef regardless of whether fresh, chilled or frozen during 2020.

1. Brazil: US$7.4 billion (14.9% of total beef exports)
2. Australia: $6.9 billion (13.7%)
3. United States: $6.6 billion (13.1%)
4. India: $2.8 billion (5.6%)
5. Argentina: $2.7 billion (5.4%)
6. Netherlands: $2.6 billion (5.2%)
7. New Zealand: $2.4 billion (4.8%)
8. Canada: $2.2 billion (4.4%)
9. Ireland: $2.18 billion (4.4%)
10. Uruguay: $1.6 billion (3.2%)
11. Poland: $1.55 billion (3.1%)
12. Mexico: $1.53 billion (3.1%)
13. Germany: $1.12 billion (2.2%)
14. Paraguay: $1.12 billion (2.2%)
15. France: $983.2 million (2%)

The listed 15 countries shipped 87.4% of all beef exported in 2020.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing beef exporters from 2019 to 2020 were: Brazil (up 14.7%), Mexico (up 10.5%) and Paraguay (up 9.2%).

Those countries that posted declines in their exported beef sales were led by Germany (down -17.6%), Uruguay (down -14.4%), Argentina (down -12.5%) and Australia (down -10.2%).

Top 15 Exporters of Fresh or Chilled Beef

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of fresh or chilled beef during 2020.

1. United States: US$3.6 billion (15.3% of exported fresh or chilled beef)
2. Australia: $2.7 billion (11.8%)
3. Netherlands: $2.3 billion (10%)
4. Canada: $1.8 billion (7.7%)
5. Ireland: $1.79 billion (7.7%)
6. Mexico: $1.3 billion (5.8%)
7. Poland: $1.2 billion (4.9%)
8. Germany: $955.7 million (4.1%)
9. France: $919.5 million (4%)
10. Brazil: $767.8 million (3.3%)
11. Spain: $690.9 million (3%)
12. Argentina: $653.7 million (2.8%)
13. Belgium: $583.9 million (2.5%)
14. Paraguay: $526.4 million (2.3%)
15. United Kingdom: $373.8 million (1.6%)

The listed 15 countries shipped 86.6% of all fresh or chilled beef exported in 2020.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing fresh or chilled beef exporters from 2019 to 2020 were: Mexico (up 12.8%), Paraguay (up 12.6%), Spain (up 4.5%) and Canada (up 2%).

Those countries that posted declines in their exported fresh or chilled beef sales were led by: Germany (down -15.9%), Argentina (down -15.3%), Brazil (down -12.8%) and Netherlands (down -6.5%).

Top 15 Exporters of Frozen Beef

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of frozen beef during 2020.

1. Brazil: US$6.7 billion (25.1% of total exported frozen beef)
2. Australia: $4.1 billion (15.4%)
3. United States: $3 billion (11.2%)
4. India: $2.8 billion (10.4%)
5. New Zealand: $2.11 billion (7.9%)
6. Argentina: $2.06 billion (7.8%)
7. Uruguay: $1.3 billion (4.9%)
8. Paraguay: $591.3 million (2.2%)
9. Canada: $399.6 million (1.5%)
10. Poland: $394.6 million (1.48%)
11. Ireland: $389.9 million (1.47%)
12. Nicaragua: $304.1 million (1.1%)
13. Netherlands: $251.4 million (0.9%)
14. Belarus: $210.3 million (0.8%)
15. Mexico: $189 million (0.7%)

The listed 15 countries shipped 93% of all frozen beef exported in 2020.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing frozen beef exporters from 2019 to 2020 were: Brazil (up 19%), Ireland (up 13.6%), Paraguay (up 6.4%) and Nicaragua (up 3.9%).

Those countries that posted declines in their exported frozen beef sales were led by Australia (down -16.6%), Netherlands (down -14.6%), Uruguay (down -14.3%) and United States of America (down -12.1%).

Major 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)

Related Read: Average Frozen Beef Prices Compared by Top Exporters

See also Fresh or Frozen Beef Imports by Country, Chicken Exports by Country, Pork Exports by Country, Top Sheep and Lamb Meat Exports and Average Frozen Beef Prices Compared by Top Exporters

Research Sources:
Alibaba, Supplier showroom for beef. Accessed on May 13, 2022

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on May 13, 2022

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 13, 2022

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 13, 2022

Wikipedia, Beef. Accessed on May 13, 2022

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Source: https://www.worldstopexports.com/top-beef-exporting-countries/

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