Which Country Supplies the Most Meat to America? The Answer May Surprise Shoppers

America produces enormous amounts of meat, but a significant portion of what reaches its grocery stores and food processors also comes from overseas. From Canadian pork to Australian beef, international suppliers play an important role in keeping the country’s meat market moving.

So, which country supplies the most imported meat to the United States?  Canada, according to the latest available U.S. Department of Agriculture figures across multiple meat categories. However, for beef specifically, Australia leads.

The difference reveals something interesting about America’s grocery supply: the country that provides the most meat overall is not necessarily the biggest supplier of every type.

Canada Leads America’s Imported Meat Market

According to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s imported meat reports, Canada supplied approximately 645,718 metric tons of meat that passed for U.S. entry through October 31, 2026.

That represented about 25.8% of the 2.5 million metric tons recorded from all supplying countries during the period.

Australia ranked second with 545,371 metric tons, accounting for approximately 21.8% of the total.

Brazil followed with 349,631 metric tons, while Mexico contributed 280,642 metric tons. New Zealand rounded out the five leading suppliers with 210,617 metric tons.

Canada’s position reflects its broad involvement in America’s meat market. Rather than depending on one product, the country supplies several categories, including beef, pork, poultry, veal, and processed meat.

Its reported volume increased 6% compared with the same period in 2025.

These figures represent meat passing through the USDA’s import inspection system during the first ten months of 2026, rather than a complete calendar-year customs total.

Australia Is America’s Biggest Foreign Beef Supplier

Canada may dominate the combined figures, but Australia’s position strengthens when beef is considered separately.

Complete 2025 USDA trade statistics show that Australia supplied approximately 1.41 billion pounds of beef to the United States. That represented around 25.8% of America’s total beef imports for the year.

Canada followed with approximately 1.01 billion pounds, while Brazil supplied 931 million pounds. Mexico contributed 710 million pounds, and New Zealand supplied nearly 540 million pounds.

Altogether, U.S. beef imports reached approximately 5.47 billion pounds in 2025, an 18% increase from the previous year.

One reason imported beef matters is how American food processors use different types of meat.

The USDA Economic Research Service explains that much of the beef imported into the United States is lean beef used for blending with fattier domestic beef to produce ground beef.

This means imported beef is not simply competing with American steaks at the supermarket. It also serves specific processing needs within the domestic industry.

For shoppers, that helps explain why international beef suppliers matter even when grocery shelves are filled with familiar American brands.

Canada Dominates Pork Imports

The rankings change again when pork enters the picture. Canada supplied approximately 697 million pounds of pork to the United States in 2025, representing about 62% of American pork imports.

That makes Canada especially important to this part of the meat trade.

The relationship benefits from geographic proximity and established agricultural connections between the neighboring countries.

Canadian suppliers can serve American processors and buyers through an extensive cross-border trading relationship.

The USDA’s overview of livestock trade also highlights how the two countries’ production systems complement one another.

However, imported pork is only one part of the much larger American pork market, which also includes substantial domestic production.

For shoppers, the important distinction is that Canada leads foreign pork supplies, not necessarily the entire pork supply available in the United States.

Australia Also Leads Imported Lamb

Beef is not Australia’s only major contribution to America’s meat imports. The country also dominates the imported lamb market.

In 2025, Australia supplied approximately 226 million pounds of lamb, accounting for about 75% of U.S. lamb imports. New Zealand followed with approximately 74 million pounds, representing about 24%.

Together, these two countries supplied nearly all the imported lamb recorded in the annual figures.

This makes lamb a particularly interesting example of how America’s foreign meat suppliers specialize in different products.

While Canada leads the combined meat-entry totals, Australia holds a commanding position in both beef and lamb imports. The country associated with the largest overall shipment volume therefore tells only part of the story.

Chile Leads Imported Broiler Chicken

Chicken introduces another country into the discussion.   According to USDA’s complete 2025 statistics, Chile supplied approximately 78.4% of America’s imported broiler chicken. Canada accounted for another 21.2%.

Total broiler chicken imports reached approximately 152.2 million pounds during the year.

These figures apply specifically to broiler chicken, rather than every type of poultry or prepared chicken product.

This distinction matters because different meat categories have different supply chains and international trading patterns.

A country that dominates imported chicken may have a much smaller role in beef, pork, or lamb.

That is why identifying America’s biggest meat supplier requires looking at the products being measured rather than assuming one country dominates everything.

Why Does America Import So Much Meat?

With such a large domestic livestock industry, some shoppers may wonder why the United States needs imported meat.

The answer involves production needs, consumer demand, and the different types of meat available.

The United States produces substantial quantities of beef, pork, and poultry. However, domestic production does not always match every requirement of food processors and buyers.

Ground beef provides a useful example.

American producers generate beef with different fat levels, while processors may purchase leaner imported beef to achieve the desired blend for ground products.

Imports can therefore complement domestic production rather than replace it. Supply conditions also influence purchasing decisions.

According to the USDA Economic Research Service, America’s cattle inventory stood at approximately 86.7 million head at the beginning of 2025, about 8% below its 2019 peak.

Rebuilding cattle herds takes time, while demand for beef continues year-round. Foreign suppliers provide additional sourcing options for businesses managing these market conditions.

How Can Shoppers Tell Where Their Meat Comes From?

The country supplying America’s largest volume of imported meat does not automatically determine the origin of a particular grocery purchase.

That depends on the product, its processing history, and applicable labeling rules.

According to the USDA’s Country of Origin Labeling program, covered retailers must provide origin information for certain products, including muscle cuts and ground chicken, lamb, and goat.

Beef and pork were removed from that particular mandatory retail labeling program in 2016, although other origin-marking requirements can still apply to imported products.

Additionally, updated voluntary labeling rules that took effect January 1, 2026, establish stricter requirements for certain products advertised as “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA.”

For shoppers interested in where their groceries originate, checking the package and applicable origin statements remains more useful than relying on national import rankings alone.