> In 2024 China produced 7.0 million t of beef (cattle meat), the 3rd largest in the world (10.1% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 27%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/beef/china/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Beef (cattle meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/)›ChinaFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# Beef (cattle meat) production in China

In 2024 China produced 7.0 million t of beef (cattle meat), the 3rd largest in the world (10.1% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 27%. This is the highest figure on record.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/beef/)[Market prices in China](https://husfarm.com/country/china/)

Production, 20247.0 million t
World rank3 of 189
10-year change+27%
Record7.0 million t2024

## Beef (cattle meat) in China, 1961–2024 (tonnes)

## China compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total10.1%8.8% in 2014
kg per person4.94world 8.55
10-year change+27%world +10%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [United States](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/united-states/) | 12,289,768 | 17.6% |
| 2 | [Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/brazil/) | 10,237,584 | 14.7% |
| 3 | **China** | 7,011,810 | 10.1% |
| 4 | [Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/argentina/) | 3,178,044 | 4.6% |
| 5 | [Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/australia/) | 2,589,767 | 3.7% |

[Full ranking of 189 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/)

### Map of world production of beef (cattle meat)

under 0.1%0.1–1%1–5%5–15%15% or moreno data
Share of the world total; China is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.

## By year

| Year | Tonnes | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 7,011,810 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 6,774,120 | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 6,464,340 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 6,277,590 | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 6,052,050 | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 6,005,800 | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 5,796,540 | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 5,711,580 | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 5,552,190 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 5,552,010 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 5,541,480 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 5,517,810 | −0.3% |
| 2012 | 5,532,750 | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 5,496,390 | −2.9% |
| 2010 | 5,661,630 | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 5,635,620 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 5,559,120 | −1.4% |
| 2007 | 5,635,980 | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 5,312,970 | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 5,112,900 | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 5,043,600 | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 4,882,500 | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 4,697,100 | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 4,577,400 | −0.9% |
| 2000 | 4,618,080 | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 4,548,600 | +13% |
| 1998 | 4,013,000 | +11% |
| 1997 | 3,629,300 | +22% |
| 1996 | 2,976,300 | +16% |
| 1995 | 2,570,500 | +22% |
| 1994 | 2,114,500 | +8.2% |
| 1993 | 1,955,000 | +26% |
| 1992 | 1,549,450 | +18% |
| 1991 | 1,314,500 | +22% |
| 1990 | 1,078,000 | +18% |
| 1989 | 911,000 | +21% |
| 1988 | 755,400 | +17% |
| 1987 | 648,000 | +44% |
| 1986 | 450,000 | +30% |
| 1985 | 345,000 | +15% |
| 1984 | 301,000 | +16% |
| 1983 | 260,000 | +8.3% |
| 1982 | 240,000 | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 235,000 | 0.0% |
| 1980 | 235,000 | +12% |
| 1979 | 210,000 | +14% |
| 1978 | 184,000 | 0.0% |
| 1977 | 184,000 | +5.7% |
| 1976 | 174,000 | −3.9% |
| 1975 | 181,000 | +4.0% |
| 1974 | 174,000 | +6.7% |
| 1973 | 163,000 | +10% |
| 1972 | 148,000 | +7.2% |
| 1971 | 138,000 | +13% |
| 1970 | 122,000 | 0.0% |
| 1969 | 122,000 | +3.4% |
| 1968 | 118,000 | 0.0% |
| 1967 | 118,000 | +4.4% |
| 1966 | 113,000 | +8.7% |
| 1965 | 104,000 | +12% |
| 1964 | 93,000 | +12% |
| 1963 | 83,000 | +34% |
| 1962 | 62,000 | +44% |
| 1961 | 43,000 | — |

## Trade, 2024

Exports54 t USD 355,000
Exporter rank65 of 92
Imports489,117 t USD 1.24 bn
Importer rank1 of 169
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. [World exporters and importers](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/)

## Questions and answers

### What is the production of beef (cattle meat) in China?

China produced 7.0 million t in 2024, 10.1% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does China rank in the world for production of beef (cattle meat)?

China ranked 3rd of 189 countries in 2024. The largest producer was United States with 17.6% of the world total.

### How has the production of beef (cattle meat) in China changed?

It rose by 27% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +10% for the world. 2024 was the highest figure on record.

### Does China export or import meat of cattle with the bone, fresh or chilled?

In 2024 China reported exports of 54 t (USD 355,000) and imports of 489,117 t (USD 1.24 bn), according to FAOSTAT trade data.

### Where does this data come from?

From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for China is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[United States](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/united-states/)[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/brazil/)[Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/argentina/)[Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/australia/)[Mexico](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/mexico/)[Russia](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/russia/)[Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/turkey/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/pakistan/)[France](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/france/)[Canada](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/canada/)[Uzbekistan](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/uzbekistan/)[South Africa](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/south-africa/)
[All countries producing beef (cattle meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/)

## Other products of China

[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/china/)[Rice (paddy)](https://husfarm.com/production/rice/china/)[Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-vegetables/china/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/china/)[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/china/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/china/)[Cucumbers](https://husfarm.com/production/cucumbers/china/)[Watermelons](https://husfarm.com/production/watermelons/china/)[Tomatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/tomatoes/china/)[Pork (pig meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/pork/china/)[Sweet potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/china/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/china/)
[Agricultural production in China](https://husfarm.com/production/country/china/)

Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL). Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.

---
Husfarm: https://husfarm.com/ · Site guide for agents: https://husfarm.com/llms.txt