7 Largest Beef Exporting Countries in the World
Beef is one of the most consumed meats in the world, with a global demand of over 60 million tons per year. Some countries produce more beef than they consume, while others import beef to meet their domestic needs. In this article, we will look at the seven largest beef exporting countries in the world, based on the data .
1. Brazil
Brazil is the world’s largest beef exporter, with a market share of 19.8% and a volume of 2.02 million tons. Brazil has a large cattle herd of over 200 million head, and a low production cost due to abundant land and feed resources. Brazil exports beef mainly to China, Hong Kong, Egypt, Chile and the United Arab Emirates.
2. India
India is the second-largest beef exporter, with a market share of 19.8% and a volume of 2.02 million tons. India exports mostly buffalo meat, also known as carabeef, which is cheaper and leaner than beef from cattle. India’s main export destinations are Vietnam, Malaysia, Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
3. Australia
Australia is the third-largest beef exporter, with a market share of 14.8% and a volume of 1.51 million tons. Australia has a high-quality beef industry that follows strict animal welfare and food safety standards. Australia exports beef mainly to China, Japan, South Korea, the United States and Indonesia.
4. United States
The United States is the fourth-largest beef exporter, with a market share of 12% and a volume of 1.23 million tons. The United States has a large and diverse beef industry that produces grain-fed and grass-fed beef, as well as organic and natural beef. The United States exports beef mainly to Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Canada and Hong Kong.
5. Argentina
Argentina is the fifth-largest beef exporter, with a market share of 6% and a volume of 0.61 million tons. Argentina has a long tradition of producing high-quality grass-fed beef that is renowned for its flavor and tenderness. Argentina exports beef mainly to China, Chile, Israel, Germany and Brazil.
6. New Zealand
New Zealand is the sixth-largest beef exporter, with a market share of 5% and a volume of 0.51 million tons. New Zealand has a pasture-based beef industry that produces lean and healthy beef with low environmental impact. New Zealand exports beef mainly to China, the United States, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
7. Uruguay
Uruguay is the seventh-largest beef exporter, with a market share of 3% and a volume of 0.31 million tons. Uruguay has a small but efficient beef industry that follows strict traceability and quality control systems. Uruguay exports beef mainly to China, the European Union, Israel, Brazil and the United States.
These seven countries accounted for 80% of the global beef exports in 2020, according to the USDA. The global beef trade is influenced by various factors such as consumer preferences, animal health regulations, trade policies and exchange rates. As the world population and income grow, the demand for beef is expected to increase in the future.
Largest Beef Exporting Countries
Introduction
Beef is one of the most consumed meats in the world, with a global demand of over 60 million metric tons in 2020. However, not all countries produce enough beef to meet their domestic consumption, and some countries have a surplus of beef that they export to other markets. In this blog post, we will look at the top five beef exporting countries in the world, based on the data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). We will also analyze how the global demand for beef has changed over time and what factors affect the beef trade.
Top Five Beef Exporting Countries
According to the USDA, the top five beef exporting countries in 2020 were Brazil, Australia, the United States, India, and Argentina. These countries accounted for 73% of the total beef exports in the world, which amounted to 10.8 million metric tons. The following table shows the beef exports of these countries in 2020 and their share of the global market.
| Country | Beef Exports (Metric Tons, 2020) | Share of Global Exports (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 2,020,000 | 18.7 |
| Australia | 1,665,000 | 15.4 |
| United States | 1,270,000 | 11.8 |
| India | 1,200,000 | 11.1 |
| Argentina | 825,000 | 7.6 |
Source: USDA
Brazil was the largest beef exporter in the world in 2020, with a market share of 18.7%. Brazil has a large cattle herd of over 200 million head, which is mainly raised on pasture land. Brazil exports beef to more than 150 countries, with its main destinations being China, Hong Kong, Egypt, Chile, and Saudi Arabia. Brazil’s beef exports increased by 8.5% from 2019 to 2020, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the environmental concerns over deforestation.
Australia was the second largest beef exporter in the world in 2020, with a market share of 15.4%. Australia has a cattle herd of about 25 million head, which is mainly raised on extensive grazing systems. Australia exports beef to more than 100 countries, with its main destinations being Japan, China, South Korea, the United States, and Indonesia. Australia’s beef exports decreased by 15.2% from 2019 to 2020, due to the reduced cattle supply caused by droughts and bushfires.
The United States was the third largest beef exporter in the world in 2020, with a market share of 11.8%. The United States has a cattle herd of about 94 million head, which is mainly raised on feedlots and grain-fed systems. The United States exports beef to more than 130 countries, with its main destinations being Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Canada, and Hong Kong. The United States’ beef exports increased by 13.3% from 2019 to 2020, thanks to the strong demand from Asia and the recovery of the domestic production after the COVID-19 disruptions.
India was the fourth largest beef exporter in the world in 2020, with a market share of 11.1%. India has a cattle herd of about 303 million head, which is mainly raised on smallholder farms and mixed crop-livestock systems. India exports beef to more than 70 countries, with its main destinations being Vietnam, Malaysia, Egypt, Indonesia, and Iraq. India’s beef exports decreased by 35% from 2019 to 2020, due to the COVID-19 lockdowns and the religious and political restrictions on cattle slaughter.
Argentina was the fifth largest beef exporter in the world in 2020, with a market share of 7.6%. Argentina has a cattle herd of about 54 million head, which is mainly raised on natural grasslands and feedlots. Argentina exports beef to more than 60 countries, with its main destinations being China, Chile, Israel, Brazil, and Germany. Argentina’s beef exports increased by 16.5% from 2019 to 2020, due to the high demand from China and the favorable exchange rate.
Global Demand for Beef
The global demand for beef has been growing steadily over the past decades, driven by the population growth, the income growth, the urbanization, and the dietary changes in developing countries. According to the USDA, the global beef consumption increased from 48 million metric tons in 2000 to 60 million metric tons in 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 1.2%.
The largest consumers of beef in the world are Asia, North America, and South America. These regions accounted for 77% of the total beef consumption in the world in 2020. Asia’s beef consumption increased from 15 million metric tons in 2000 to 24 million metric tons in 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 2.5%. This was mainly driven by the rapid economic development and the rising middle class in countries such as China, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. North America’s beef consumption increased from 12 million metric tons in 2000 to 14 million metric tons in 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 0.7%. This was mainly driven by the high per capita consumption and the preference for high-quality beef in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Mexico. South America’s beef consumption increased from 10 million metric tons in 2000 to 13 million metric tons in 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 1.3%. This was mainly driven by the abundant cattle production and the cultural tradition of beef consumption in countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia.
Beef is one of the most traded and consumed meats in the world, with a global demand of over 60 million metric tons in 2020. The top five beef exporting countries in the world are Brazil, Australia, the United States, India, and Argentina, which together account for 73% of the total beef exports in the world. The global demand for beef is expected to continue growing in the future, especially in Asia, where the economic development and the dietary changes are creating a large market for beef products.
References:
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.GSR.GNFS.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.EXP.GNFS.CD?locations=IR
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.EXP.GNFS.CD?locations=CU&most_recent_value_desc=true
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.EXP.GNFS.CD?locations=TM&most_recent_value_desc=true
https://www.statista.com/chart/19122/biggest-exporters-of-beef/
https://blog.bizvibe.com/blog/food-beverages/top-20-worlds-largest-beef-exporters
https://beef2live.com/story-world-beef-exports-ranking-countries-0-106903
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