How Much Beef The US Really Imports Versus What It Raises At Home - Tasting Table

"You know, considering how the U.S. is famous for our cowboys, cattle auctions, and New York strips, it probably doesn't come as much of a surprise that the U.S. has the rest of the world beat in terms of beef production. According to the USDA, last year, we alone produced 20% of the global supply, which translates to about 12.29 million metric tons (27.09 billion pounds)."

"You see, American ranchers mostly focus on producing high-quality, marbled cuts like steaks and roasts, leaving the domestic market short on lean beef. And guess what sort of beef is most preferred for burgers? Those 80/20 (80% lean-20% fat) or 85/15 (85% lean-15% fat) blends - which American beef packers just can't reliably supply. That's why, per Drovers, nearly 70% of our beef imports are lean beef trimmings"

The United States produced roughly 20% of global beef supply in the most recent year, about 12.29 million metric tons (27.09 billion pounds). U.S. beef exports totaled 1.29 million metric tons (2.84 billion pounds in 2024). Despite high domestic production, the U.S. was the world’s second-largest beef importer in 2024, bringing in 4.38 billion pounds of foreign beef. Domestic producers emphasize marbled cuts like steaks and roasts, leaving a shortage of lean beef for ground products. Much wagyu and specific specialty beef are imported from countries such as Japan and Australia. Nearly 70% of U.S. beef imports consist of lean beef trimmings used for burgers.

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