That dollar metric results from an average 21.5% increase for worldwide beef shippers over the five-year period starting in 2019 back when overall beef exports were worth $52.1 billion.
Year over year, the value of international beef sales fell by -7.5% compared to $68.5 billion exported during 2022.
From a continental perspective, suppliers in Europe overtook Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean to earn the highest dollar amount for exporting all types of beef during 2023. Beef shipments from Europe were worth $17.1 billion or 27.1% of the world total.
Close behind in second place at 26.8% were suppliers in Latin American countries excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, ahead of worldwide beef shipments originating from North America at another 21.9%.
Trailing the above continental sources were beef exporters from Oceania (17%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
Smaller percentages trace back to exporters in Asia (6.9%) and Africa (0.4%).
Exports by Type of Beef
Fresh or chilled beef exports were worth $30.4 billion in 2023 or 48% of global beef exports. That percentage easily exceeds the 43% share one year earlier in 2022.
Frozen beef shipments were valued at $32.9 billion for 2023 or 52% of the world total. The percentage for frozen beef lags the 57% share for frozen beef in 2022.
The annual increase for fresh or chilled exported beef was a 2.6% improvement from 2022 to 2023, outpacing the -15.3% year-over-year reduction for frozen exported 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 during 2023, combining all fresh, chilled and frozen versions.
- Brazil: US$9.3 billion (14.6% of total beef exports)
- Australia: $8 billion (12.6%)
- United States: $7.2 billion (11.3%)
- India: $3.2 billion (5%)
- New Zealand: $3.1 billion (5%)
- Argentina: $3 billion (4.7%)
- Uruguay: $2.85 billion (4.5%)
- Paraguay: $2.76 billion (4.4%)
- Ireland: $2.5 billion (4%)
- Poland: $2.2 billion (3.5%)
- Canada: $2.1 billion (3.3%)
- Netherlands: $1.9 billion (3%)
- Germany: $1.6 billion (2.5%)
- Nicaragua: $1.4 billion (2.2%)
- Spain: $1.2 billion (1.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 82.3% of all beef exports in 2023.
Among the above countries, growth exporters of beef (including both fresh and frozen meat) were: Nicaragua (up 75.3% from 2022), Paraguay (up 45.7%), Uruguay (up 8.3%) and India (up 6.8%).
Those countries that posted declines in their exported beef sales were led by suppliers in: United States of America (down -69% from 2022), Netherlands (down -54.9%), Canada (down -39.9%) and world-leader Brazil (down -32.5%).
Top 15 Exporters of Fresh or Chilled Beef
The top exporters for fresh or chilled beef are the United States of America, Netherlands and Australia supplying more than a third of globally exported fresh or chilled beef.
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of fresh or chilled beef during 2023.
- United States: US$4.4 billion (14.5% of exported fresh or chilled beef)
- Netherlands: $3.1 billion (10.2%)
- Australia: $3 billion (10%)
- Canada: $2.9 billion (9.6%)
- Ireland: $2.1 billion (7.1%)
- Poland: $1.8 billion (5.9%)
- Mexico: $1.7 billion (5.7%)
- Germany: $1.3 billion (4.3%)
- France: $1.11 billion (3.7%)
- Spain: $1.07 billion (3.5%)
- Brazil: $962.3 million (3.2%)
- Paraguay: $795.3 million (2.6%)
- Argentina: $785 million (2.6%)
- Belgium: $707.1 million (2.3%)
- Austria: $542.5 million (1.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 86.9% of all fresh or chilled beef exports in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing fresh or chilled beef exporters from 2022 to 2023 were: Canada (up 14.3%), Poland (up 14.2%), Brazil (up 10.8%) and Austria (up 10.6%).
Those countries that posted declines in their sales of exported fresh or chilled beef were: Paraguay (down -10% from 2022), Argentina (down -3.9%), Mexico (down -3.8%) and France (down -3.3%).
Top 15 Exporters of Frozen Beef
The world’s biggest exporters of frozen beef are Brazil, Australia and the United States of America. Collectively, that trio generated 53.8% of exported frozen beef sales.
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of frozen beef during 2023.
- Brazil: US$8.5 billion (25.9% of total exported frozen beef)
- Australia: $5 billion (15.2%)
- United States of America: $4.2 billion (12.7%)
- India: $3.2 billion (9.7%)
- New Zealand: $2.4 billion (7.3%)
- Argentina: $1.94 billion (5.9%)
- Uruguay: $1.6 billion (4.9%)
- Paraguay: $734.3 million (2.2%)
- Ireland: $671.8 million (2%)
- Poland: $575.8 million (1.7%)
- Canada: $380.6 million (1.2%)
- Netherlands: $375.1 million (1.1%)
- Germany: $329.7 million (1%)
- Nicaragua: $283.9 million (0.9%)
- Spain: $249.9 million (0.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 92.4% of all frozen beef exports in 2023.
Among the above countries, the pair of growth exporters of frozen beef from 2022 to 2023 were India (up 11.4%) and Australia (up 6.3%).
Those countries that posted declines in their exported frozen beef sales were led by: Canada (down -33.6%), United States of America (down -27.8%), Argentina (down -24.7%) and Uruguay (down -24.1%).
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 Top Goat Meat Exports by Country
Research Sources:
Alibaba, Supplier showroom for beef. Accessed on July 15, 2024
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on July 15, 2024
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 15, 2024
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 15, 2024
Wikipedia, Beef. Accessed on July 15, 2024