Beef: Production
Why beef output has grown so slowly
What this tab covers Who produces it and how much: world output over recent years, the top producing countries with their shares, USGS world figures for 2024 and 2025, and the largest producing companies globally and in India.FAOSTAT puts 2024 world output of cattle meat at about 69.7 million tonnes, up from 53.1 million in 1990 and 64.7 million in 2020. That is growth of only about 31% in 34 years. The United States (17.6%), Brazil (14.7%) and China (10.0%) lead, followed by Argentina, Australia and Mexico. An HHI of 719 means production is unconcentrated. Concentration is higher downstream, where a handful of large packers handle much of the slaughter in the main exporting countries.
Meat of cattle with the bone, fresh or chilled · FAOSTAT
Chart: World production of Meat of cattle with the bone, fresh or chilled
World production, tonnes. Hover for values.Top producers 2024
United States 17.6% Brazil 14.7% China 10.1% Argentina 4.6% Australia 3.7% Mexico 3.2% Russia 2.4% Türkiye 2.1% Concentration: HHI 719, unconcentrated.Largest producers by company, global
- JBS: 28.13 US$ billion net sales, JBS Beef North America (group net revenue US$86.2 billion; JBS Australia US$8.08 billion) (2025)
- Tyson Foods: 21.62 US$ billion beef segment sales (adjusted operating loss $426 million) (FY2025)
- Minerva Foods: 54.8 R$ billion net revenue (record), about 60% from exports (2025)