How much beef does New Zealand produce and export?
New Zealand is the nullth largest producer of beef: 741,844 tonnes in 2024, 1.1% of the world's 69.6 million tonnes (FAOSTAT). It is the 5th largest exporter by value: $2.3 billion in 2024, 6.2% of world exports of frozen beef (HS 0202) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is the United States, which takes 45% of its beef exports by value.
All about beef · All about New Zealand · Beef price history
New Zealand's beef production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 741,844 tonnes | 1.1% | +1.7% a year | 2024 |
FAOSTAT Crops and livestock products (QCL), 2024. World total is the sum of reporting countries.
New Zealand's beef exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | $2.3 billion | 6.2% | 445,497 t | $5,150 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 0202 (Meat of bovine animals, frozen).
Where New Zealand's beef goes
| Destination | Value | Share of New Zealand's exports |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $1.0B | 45% |
| China | $598M | 26% |
| Canada | $135M | 5.9% |
| Japan | $128M | 5.6% |
| Other Asia, nes | $83M | 3.6% |
How much beef New Zealand uses
New Zealand's domestic supply of beef was 91 thousand tonnes in 2023, 0.1% of the world's. Food supply was 18 kg per person a year, 29th highest of 142 countries with a million or more people. It produced 826% of what it used (self-sufficiency) and imported 13%. FAO's item is "Bovine meat". Consumption · Self-sufficiency.
The beef price New Zealand sells into
The benchmark price, Australia/New Zealand, CIF US ports, was $6.86/kg in September 2026, down 1% over twelve months. Its five-year volatility is 12% a year, calmer in 35% of its earlier five-year windows. A single country's export price can differ from the benchmark: see trade price against benchmark. Monthly averages lag the market and are not investment advice. Beef price history.
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "New Zealand beef: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/NZL/beef/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.