Grilled rib of beef

Encompassing fresh, chilled and frozen beef, worldwide purchases of imported beef totaled US$83.6 billion in 2025.

The overall value of beef imports increased by 42.3% for all importing countries from five years earlier in 2021 when beef purchases were valued at $58.7 billion.

Year over year, the total cost of globally imported beef inflated by 19.3% compared to $70.1 billion starting from 2024.

The 5 biggest importers of fresh, chilled and frozen beef (inclusive) are mainland China, United States of America, South Korea, Germany and Italy. Collectively, that powerful cohort of major beef buyers bought approaching half (47.2%) of globally imported beef by value.

By meat type, global imports of frozen beef (52.9% overall) in 2025 compared to fresh or chilled beef (47.1% versus 46.5% one year prior).

From a continental perspective, buyers in Asian countries consumed the highest dollar worth of imported beef during 2025 with purchases valued at $34.3 billion or 41.1% of the global total. In second place were importers based in Europe at 31.3% while another 20.6% of worldwide beef imports was delivered to customers in North America.

Smaller percentages were imported into Latin America (4.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (2.6%), then Oceania (0.3%) led by New Zealand, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Australia.

For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefixes are 0201 for fresh or chilled beef and 0202 for frozen beef.

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped approaching three-quarters (72.7%) of all beef imported in 2025.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing beef importers since 2021 were: Netherlands (up 501%), Italy (up 486%), Chile (up 459.4%) and Germany (up 388.3%).

Those countries that posted year-over-year declines in their imported beef purchases were: Taiwan (down -16.3%), mainland China (down -12.3%), South Korea (down -5.4%) and Japan (down -0.8%).

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped over three-quarters (76.6%) of all fresh or chilled beef imported in 2025.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing fresh or chilled beef importers since 2021 were: Spain (up 121.7%), Portugal (up 102.7%), Mexico (up 72.4%) and the Netherlands (up 67.7%).

Those countries that posted year-over-year declines in their imported fresh or chilled beef purchases were: Japan (down -34.4%), South Korea (down -11.6%) and Chile (down -2%).

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped over three-quarters (76.1%) of all frozen beef imported in 2025.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing frozen beef importers since 2021 were: Canada (up 193%), United States (up 147.6%), France (up 118.7%) and the United Kingdom (up 99.8%).

Hong Kong was the lone listed country that posted a year-over-year decline in imported frozen beef purchases via a -48.1% slowdown.

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 July 5, 2026

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on July 5, 2026

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 5, 2026

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 5, 2026