Half of Imported Beef is 'American'... Number One for 7 Consecutive Years

Recorded 52% Market Share in Domestic Imported Meat Market
Refrigerated Meat Accounts for 28.3% of Total, Gradually Increasing
7 out of 10 People Say "US Beef Is Safe"

U.S. beef recorded a 52% market share in the domestic imported meat market last year, securing the top position for seven consecutive years.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation announced the status of U.S. beef in 2023 on the 18th, based on domestic customs clearance data and consumer surveys. Last year, the total beef import volume was 472,866 tons (customs clearance basis), with U.S. beef accounting for 245,686 tons, representing 52% of the total. This marks the seventh consecutive year that U.S. beef has held the number one spot in the domestic imported meat market. A representative from the U.S. Meat Export Federation stated, "Amid increasingly fierce competition in the domestic imported meat market every year, we have consistently maintained a market share of over 50% since 2018, securing a firm number one position."

In particular, the proportion of chilled U.S. beef imports reached 28.3% last year, showing steady growth. This is interpreted as an indicator that domestic consumers are increasingly purchasing high-quality U.S. beef directly through distribution channels or enjoying chilled beef at dining franchises and upscale steak restaurants.

A representative from the U.S. Meat Export Federation explained, "Not only has consumer demand for high-quality protein increased, but strengthened trust and safety perceptions toward both governments and distributors have led to positive consumer responses."

According to the ‘2023 Beef Consumer Perception Survey’ conducted by the U.S. Meat Export Federation in collaboration with Gallup Korea in the second half of last year, 70.4% of respondents said that "U.S. beef is safe," marking a steady increase since the second half of 2021 and reaching an all-time high. Additionally, 69.6% of respondents expressed an intention to consume U.S. beef in the future, showing a consistent upward trend.

Furthermore, the Healthy Pleasure trend of enjoying delicious and healthy food last year positively influenced the increase in both the consumption volume and frequency of beef, a high-quality protein source. Approximately 12% of all respondents reported an increase in beef consumption, and the percentage of consumers who ate beef at least once a week rose by 3% compared to the first half of last year, reaching 39.5%.

As demand for U.S. beef continues to grow, South Korea ranked first among U.S. beef export destinations for three consecutive years through November last year. U.S. pork exports also reached about 62,000 tons last year, achieving approximately 31.5% market share in the domestic imported pork market, representing about a 6% growth compared to the previous year.