US beef still moves big numbers in 2022, with total beef exports hitting a record 3.24 billion pounds carcass weight equivalent and Japan buying 599 million pounds alone. At the same time, per capita beef consumption slid to 58.1 pounds and the cattle inventory fell to 91.9 million head, the lowest since 1951. This mix of trade strength and shifting supply and demand is exactly what the industry statistics put into focus.
Key Takeaways
- Total US beef imports for consumption hit 3.4 billion pounds in 2022, up 10%
- US per capita beef consumption was 58.1 pounds in 2022, down from 59.1 in 2021
- Fresh beef retail sales volume reached 14.2 billion pounds in 2022
- US beef industry contributed $351 billion to GDP in 2022
- Beef sector supported 1.02 million direct jobs in the US in 2022
- Total economic impact including indirect jobs reached 5.8 million from beef in 2022
- US beef exports reached a record 3.24 billion pounds carcass weight equivalent in 2022
- Japan imported 599 million pounds of US beef in 2022, 18% of total US exports
- South Korea took 474 million pounds of US beef exports in 2022, up 5%
- US beef production reached 27.8 billion pounds in 2022, marking a 2.1% increase from 2021
- The US cattle inventory stood at 91.9 million head on January 1, 2023, the lowest since 1951
- In 2022, US commercial beef production totaled 26.4 billion pounds, down 1.4% from the previous year due to smaller cattle supplies
- US beef greenhouse gas emissions totaled 253 million metric tons CO2e in 2022
- Beef production water use averaged 1,850 gallons per pound in US 2022 lifecycle
- US beef land use for grazing covered 654 million acres in 2022, 40% of continental US ag land
In 2022, US beef exports hit a record, production rose slightly, while consumption dipped and industry impact grew.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumption25 stats
01
Total US beef imports for consumption hit 3.4 billion pounds in 2022, up 10%
02
US per capita beef consumption was 58.1 pounds in 2022, down from 59.1 in 2021
03
Fresh beef retail sales volume reached 14.2 billion pounds in 2022
04
Processed beef products consumption totaled 12.5 billion pounds per capita adjusted in 2022
05
Ground beef accounted for 46% of total US fresh beef consumption in 2022
06
US household beef disappearance was 57.8 pounds per capita in 2022
07
Steak cuts represented 22% of US beef retail pounds sold in 2022
08
Roast beef consumption in foodservice sector grew 3% to 2.1 billion pounds in 2022
09
US beef demand index rose to 215.8 in 2022, highest since 2015
10
Per capita lamb and veal consumption was 1.2 pounds, but beef dominated at 58 pounds in 2022
11
Away-from-home beef consumption was 28% of total in 2022
12
At-home beef use per capita fell to 41 pounds boneless equivalent in 2022
13
Ground beef per capita consumption was 26.7 pounds in 2022
14
US beef exports for consumption totaled 3.2 billion pounds in 2022, up 11%
15
Total US red meat consumption per capita was 222.4 pounds in 2022, with beef at 58.1
16
Poultry displaced some beef consumption, with chicken at 98.6 pounds per capita in 2022
17
Pork per capita consumption was 65.7 pounds in 2022, below beef's share
18
Millennials consumed 15% more beef than Boomers per capita adjusted in 2022 surveys
19
Gen Z beef consumption frequency averaged 2.3 times weekly in 2022
20
Hispanic consumers represented 22% of US beef volume in 2022
21
Organic beef sales grew 12% to 450 million pounds in 2022 retail
22
Grass-fed beef retail share reached 4.2% of total beef sales in 2022
23
US beef consumption in quick-service restaurants totaled 1.8 billion pounds in 2022
24
Table service beef use was 2.4 billion pounds in 2022
25
School foodservice beef procurement hit 450 million pounds in 2022
Interpretation
Consumption Interpretation
In the US beef consumption picture for 2022, per capita beef intake dipped to 58.1 pounds from 59.1 in 2021 while imports rose 10% to 3.4 billion pounds, showing demand stayed solid even as overall consumption edged down.
02 · Category
Economic Impact26 stats
01
US beef industry contributed $351 billion to GDP in 2022
02
Beef sector supported 1.02 million direct jobs in the US in 2022
03
Total economic impact including indirect jobs reached 5.8 million from beef in 2022
04
US cattle and beef farm cash receipts were $92.5 billion in 2022
05
Beef processing and fabrication added $78 billion to economy in 2022
06
Wholesale beef value of production hit $105 billion in 2022
07
Retail beef sales generated $120 billion in 2022
08
Beef exports contributed $11.2 billion to US trade balance in 2022
09
Average US fed steer price was $144.50per hundredweight in 2022
10
Feeder steer prices averaged $212per cwt for 800 lb in 2022
11
US beef packer margin averaged $120per head in 2022
12
Cattle ranching farm income netted $18.2 billion in 2022
13
Beef sector tax contributions totaled $52 billion federally in 2022
14
602,000 beef farms and ranches operated in US in 2022
15
Average beef cow herd size was 43.5 head per operation in 2022
16
Beef production costs per cwt rose to $128in 2022, up 14%
17
Feed costs accounted for 62% of beef production expenses in 2022
18
Labor costs in beef packing averaged $1,200per head processed in 2022
19
US beef retail price index rose 8.4% to 285.2 in 2022
20
Choice beef retail price averaged $8.45per pound in 2022
21
Ground beef average retail price was $5.32per pound in 2022
22
Beef industry invested $2.5 billion in capital expenditures in 2022
23
State-level GDP contribution from beef highest in Texas at $28 billion in 2022
24
Nebraska beef GDP impact was $22 billion in 2022
25
Kansas beef sector added $18.5 billion to GDP in 2022
26
Colorado beef economic output totaled $12.3 billion in 2022
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
In 2022 the US beef industry delivered major economic impact by contributing $351 billion to GDP and supporting 1.02 million direct jobs, while broader effects reached 5.8 million jobs across the economy.
03 · Category
Exports/imports27 stats
01
US beef exports reached a record 3.24 billion pounds carcass weight equivalent in 2022
02
Japan imported 599 million pounds of US beef in 2022, 18% of total US exports
03
South Korea took 474 million pounds of US beef exports in 2022, up 5%
04
Mexico imported 289 million pounds of US beef in 2022, primarily lean trimmings
05
China/Hong Kong region imported 253 million pounds of US beef in 2022
06
Canada received 208 million pounds of US beef exports in 2022
07
Taiwan imported 142 million pounds of US beef in 2022, growing 15%
08
Philippines took 88 million pounds of US beef in 2022
09
US beef export value hit $11.2 billion in 2022, a record high
10
Beef export share of US production was 11.5% in 2022
11
US lean beef exports to Mexico totaled 1.1 billion pounds product weight in 2022
12
Ground beef exports from US reached 450 million pounds in 2022
13
US beef imports from Australia were 1.2 billion pounds in 2022, 35% of total imports
14
Canada supplied 912 million pounds of US beef imports in 2022
15
Brazil exported 567 million pounds of beef to the US in 2022
16
New Zealand US beef imports totaled 345 million pounds in 2022
17
US beef import value was $5.8 billion in 2022
18
Import share of US beef supply was 12.2% in 2022
19
US exported beef to 84 countries in 2022, up from 78 in 2021
20
EU imported 45 million pounds of US beef in 2022 under quota
21
US beef trade surplus was $5.4 billion in 2022
22
Chile imported 67 million pounds of US beef in 2022
23
Colombia took 56 million pounds of US beef exports in 2022
24
US beef exports to Middle East totaled 120 million pounds in 2022
25
Peru imported 34 million pounds of US beef in 2022
26
US live cattle exports numbered 85,000 head in 2022, mostly to Mexico
27
Beef variety meat exports hit 850 million pounds in 2022
Interpretation
Exports/imports Interpretation
In 2022, US beef exports hit a record 3.24 billion pounds, showing a broad export reach where Japan led with 599 million pounds and South Korea rose 5% to 474 million pounds within the exports and imports picture.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production30 stats
01
US beef production reached 27.8 billion pounds in 2022, marking a 2.1% increase from 2021
02
The US cattle inventory stood at 91.9 million head on January 1, 2023, the lowest since 1951
03
In 2022, US commercial beef production totaled 26.4 billion pounds, down 1.4% from the previous year due to smaller cattle supplies
04
Steer and heifer slaughter accounted for 64% of total US cattle slaughter in 2022, totaling 24.5 million head
05
US fed cattle marketing reached 20.1 million head in 2022, with an average dressed weight of 883 pounds
06
Cow slaughter in the US increased by 5.2% to 3.2 million head in 2022 amid drought conditions
07
Bull slaughter represented 2.5% of total US cattle slaughter in 2022, totaling 0.9 million head
08
US beef carcass weight averaged 828 pounds in 2022, up 1.5% from 2021 due to heavier animals
09
The US beef industry processed 34.6 million cattle heads in 2022 across all categories
10
Feeder cattle placements in US feedlots totaled 20.3 million head in 2022, down 3% year-over-year
11
US calf crop in 2022 was estimated at 34.5 million head, reflecting herd contraction
12
Beef cow inventory in the US dropped to 28.2 million head by January 1, 2023, a 2.2% decline
13
Other cattle inventory (steers, heifers, bulls) totaled 63.7 million head on January 1, 2023
14
US feedlot capacity utilization averaged 82% in 2022 with one million head capacity
15
January 2023 US cattle on feed for 90 days or more numbered 10.8 million head
16
Marketings from US feedlots in December 2022 totaled 1.75 million head, up 2% from prior year
17
US beef production per capita from the commercial sector was 168.3 pounds in 2022
18
Texas led US states with 4.5 million head slaughtered in 2022, representing 13% of total
19
Kansas processed 6.2 million cattle heads in 2022, second highest in the US
20
Nebraska beef packing plants handled 7.8 million head in 2022
21
Colorado saw 2.1 million cattle slaughtered in 2022
22
Iowa processed 1.9 million head in 2022 beef slaughter
23
Oklahoma beef production from slaughter totaled 1.2 million head equivalent in 2022
24
California contributed 0.8 million head to US beef slaughter in 2022
25
US beef yield grade averaged 2.8 in 2022 across Choice and Select carcasses
26
Prime beef production in the US reached 5.2% of total graded beef in 2022
27
Choice grade beef comprised 52.3% of US federally graded beef in 2022
28
Select grade beef was 28.1% of total US graded beef production in 2022
29
US beef packer ownership of cattle averaged 12% of fed marketings in 2022
30
Captive supply in US fed cattle market was 18-22% weekly average in 2022
Interpretation
Production Interpretation
From a production perspective, US beef output edged up to 27.8 billion pounds in 2022 despite a shrinking cattle base, with commercial production falling to 26.4 billion pounds and cow slaughter rising 5.2% to 3.2 million head.
05 · Category
Sustainability20 stats
01
US beef greenhouse gas emissions totaled 253 million metric tons CO2e in 2022
02
Beef production water use averaged 1,850 gallons per pound in US 2022 lifecycle
03
US beef land use for grazing covered 654 million acres in 2022, 40% of continental US ag land
04
Beef methane emissions from US enteric fermentation were 112 million metric tons CO2e in 2022
05
Manure management from US beef cattle emitted 18 million metric tons CO2e in 2022
06
US beef industry improved carbon sequestration by 1.2% per pound produced since 2017 to 2022
07
85% of US beef cows grazed on pasture for 180+ days in 2022
08
Beef feed efficiency improved 12% from 1970 to 2022, using 25% less feed per pound
09
US beef recycled 2.4 billion gallons of packing plant water in 2022
10
Antibiotic use in US beef feedlots declined 33% from 2016 to 2022
11
72% of US beef producers adopted prescribed grazing in 2022 surveys
12
Beef soil health practices covered 45 million acres in 2022
13
US beef energy use per pound decreased 7% to 42 MJ/kg in 2022 lifecycle
14
Wildlife habitat on US beef lands supported 1,200 species in 2022 assessments
15
Cover crop adoption in beef operations reached 28% in 2022
16
US beef nitrogen efficiency improved to 42% in 2022 from 35% in 2017
17
Beef packing plants diverted 95% of waste from landfills in 2022, totaling 1.2 million tons recycled
18
Renewable energy use in beef supply chain was 15% of total in 2022
19
US beef deforestation impact was zero net acres in 2022 due to domestic sourcing
20
Biodiversity index on grazed lands improved 8% in beef regions 2017-2022
Interpretation
Sustainability Interpretation
From 2017 to 2022, the US beef industry’s carbon sequestration improved by 1.2% per pound produced while total greenhouse gas emissions reached 253 million metric tons CO2e in 2022, showing measurable sustainability progress even as the sector remains a large emissions contributor.
report visual · Comparison
US Beef Industry Snapshot (2022)
Key consumption and market signals in 2022, including per-capita shifts and demand strength.
US beef demand index rose to 215.8 in 2022, highest since 2015215.8
US per capita beef consumption was 58.1 pounds in 2022, down from 59.1 in 2021
58.1
At-home beef use per capita fell to 41 pounds boneless equivalent in 2022
41
Away-from-home beef consumption was 28% of total in 2022
28%
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). Us Beef Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/us-beef-industry-statistics
MLA
Leah Kessler. "Us Beef Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/us-beef-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "Us Beef Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/us-beef-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
30 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level