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%20Trade%20Value%20by%20Region%20and%20Country.jpg "UN Comtrade SITC 001: Global Live Bovine Animal (Cattle) Trade Value by Region and Country")
🐂 UN Comtrade SITC 0: Global Live Cattle Trade Value
The trade of live cattle is a major component of global agricultural commerce, statistically classified by the United Nations Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) under Section 0: Food and Live Animals, specifically within Division 00: Live animals other than animals of division 03. UN Comtrade aggregates customs data to provide detailed, standardized trade value reports.
Global Live Animal Trade Value (SITC 00 / HS 01) - 2023
While UN Comtrade's most specific category for live cattle is SITC 001, global reports often summarize data under the broader HS Code 01 (Live animals), which closely correlates with SITC 00. The following table illustrates the trade magnitude and key players for this category in 2023.
| Rank | Indicator | Country/Area | Trade Value (in Billion US$) | Context / SITC Correlation |
| 1 | Total Global Trade | World | $28.3 Billion | Total merchandise trade for HS 01 (Live animals) |
| 2 | Top Importer | United States | $3.95 Billion | Primary driver of the deficit in this category |
| 3 | Top Importer | Italy | $2.41 Billion | Major recipient of cattle for fattening/slaughter |
| 4 | Top Exporter | France | $2.86 Billion | Leading exporter of live animals in Europe |
| 5 | Top Exporter | Canada | $2.04 Billion | Significant cross-border trade with the US |
| 6 | Key Sub-Product | Bovine Animals (HS4) | $10.9 Billion | Value specifically for live cattle and bovines |
Data Source: Based on 2023 international trade statistics, primarily using the correlation between SITC 00/001 and HS 01 (Live animals). Values are in current US dollars.
Trade Dynamics and SITC Context
SITC Classification: The code SITC 001 (Live animals other than animals of division 03) is the most precise classification for live cattle and other terrestrial livestock (excluding fish, which are in SITC 03).
Trade Balance: Countries like the United States and Italy consistently run large trade deficits in this category (imports exceed exports), indicating a high domestic demand for live animals, either for immediate consumption or to supply their agricultural finishing sectors. Conversely, countries like France and Canada maintain significant trade surpluses.
Key Drivers: The trade value is highly sensitive to regional agricultural policies, veterinary health regulations (e.g., foot-and-mouth disease or Lumpy Skin Disease outbreaks), and global protein demand.
Conclusion
The UN Comtrade SITC 00 data confirms that the global trade in live animals, heavily influenced by the movement of live cattle, is a multi-billion dollar market. In 2023, the total trade value for this segment was approximately $28.3 Billion, demonstrating its critical role in global food and agricultural supply chains. The market is characterized by strong regional flows, particularly within Europe and North America, driven by the specialized needs of finishing farms and high-volume meat processors in importing nations. This trade value is a dynamic indicator, reflecting not only commercial demand but also the impact of complex regulatory and health environments across international borders.
🌎 UN Comtrade SITC 0: Live Cattle Import Value by Region
The global trade in live animals, primarily live cattle (SITC 00/001), is dominated by regional trade blocs that have specialized roles in the production and finishing of livestock. The data below illustrates the major import values of Live Animals (HS 01 / SITC 00) by key geographic regions, reflecting the high concentration of demand in developed and rapidly growing economies.
Major Regional Importers of Live Animals (SITC 00 / HS 01) - 2023
Based on 2023 trade statistics for the broader "Live Animals" category (HS 01), the European Union (EU) and North America are the largest import markets by value, followed by the Middle East/North Africa.
| Rank | Region | Key Importing Countries | Estimated Import Value (in Billion US$) | Primary Drivers |
| 1 | Europe (Primarily EU) | Italy, Germany, Netherlands | $6.0 - $7.5 Billion | Finishing/Fattening Industry: Importing feeder calves/cattle for slaughter within the EU single market. |
| 2 | North America | United States, Canada, Mexico | $4.5 - $5.5 Billion | Beef Processing: US imports significant numbers of cattle from Canada and Mexico for feedlots and processing. |
| 3 | Middle East / West Asia | Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar | $2.0 - $3.0 Billion | Direct Consumption/Religious Slaughter: High demand for live animals for immediate slaughter, often tied to religious festivals. |
| 4 | East Asia | Japan, South Korea | $0.5 - $1.0 Billion | Breeding/High-Value Stock: Focus on importing high-genetic-value pure-bred animals and specialized livestock. |
Note: The total global import value for Live Animals (HS 01) in 2023 was approximately $28.3 Billion. Regional values are estimates based on aggregating top country data within the SITC 00 / HS 01 category and may vary based on exact SITC sub-code (001) used.
Conclusion
The analysis of UN Comtrade SITC 00/001 data, broken down by region, clearly shows that the European Union and North America are the dominant markets for live cattle imports by value. This is driven less by raw population size and more by the specialized structure of their agricultural and meat processing industries (i.e., cross-border movement for fattening and processing). Simultaneously, the Middle East represents a significant, demand-driven market where imports often serve immediate consumption and traditional/religious requirements. The value of this trade is a critical indicator of regional protein supply strategies and global livestock health standards.
🐂 UN Comtrade SITC 0: Global Live Cattle Trade Value by Country
The trade of live cattle is most accurately captured in UN Comtrade using the Harmonized System (HS) code 0102 (Live bovine animals), which strongly correlates with the SITC code 001 (Live animals other than animals of division 03).
The table below provides the most recent available data (2023 or 2024 preliminary figures) for the leading global importers and exporters of Live Bovine Animals (excluding pure-bred breeding stock) by trade value, highlighting the key players in this multi-billion dollar market.
Top Global Exporters and Importers of Live Bovine Animals (HS 0102 / SITC 001)
The total reported global trade value for this category (HS 0102) was approximately $9.06 Billion in 2023.
| Rank | Top Importer (2024 Data) | Import Value (in Billion US$) | Top Exporter (2023 Data) | Export Value (in Billion US$) |
| 1 | United States | $2.99 Billion | France | $1.88 Billion |
| 2 | Italy | $2.04 Billion | Canada | $1.24 Billion |
| 3 | Indonesia | $0.52 Billion | Mexico | $1.06 Billion |
| 4 | Canada | $0.44 Billion | European Union | $0.97 Billion |
| 5 | Turkey | $0.38 Billion | Australia | $0.53 Billion |
| 6 | Spain | $0.37 Billion | Brazil | $0.49 Billion |
| 7 | Netherlands | $0.37 Billion | United States | $0.35 Billion |
| 8 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | $0.35 Billion | Spain | $0.29 Billion |
| 9 | Lebanon | $0.31 Billion | Uruguay | $0.24 Billion |
| 10 | Israel | $0.29 Billion | Colombia | $0.23 Billion |
Source: World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) based on UN Comtrade data for HS 010290 ('Live bovine animals, other than pure-bred breed') for the most recent periods (2023-2024 preliminary).
Key Trade Patterns and Dynamics
North American Integration: The trade between the United States, Canada, and Mexico dominates the import and export columns. The US is the largest net importer, sourcing feeder cattle from its neighbors to supply its massive feedlot and beef processing industry.
European Finishing Trade: France is the top global exporter, supplying young cattle to major importers within the EU like Italy, which specializes in fattening the animals before slaughter and distribution across the single market.
Emerging Markets and Logistics: Countries in Southeast Asia (Indonesia) and the Middle East/North Africa (Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Israel) are significant importers. Their imports are often driven by a need for live animals for immediate consumption, sometimes due to lack of domestic supply or specific religious slaughter requirements.
Trade Balance: Countries like the United States and Italy are major net deficit holders (imports vastly exceed exports), while countries like France and Mexico run large trade surpluses in this category.
Conclusion
The UN Comtrade data, specifically for SITC 001 (Live Cattle), clearly identifies the highly specialized nature of the global live cattle trade. The largest trade values are concentrated in a small number of countries, reflecting established regional supply chains (North America and Europe) and high-demand consumer and finishing markets. The dominance of a few nations in both the import and export columns highlights the critical importance of bilateral trade agreements and veterinary health standards in maintaining these multi-billion dollar flows.
🐂 UN Comtrade SITC 0: Live Cattle Export Value by Region
The global export market for live cattle, primarily categorized under SITC 00 (Live animals other than fish) or the more specific HS 0102 (Live bovine animals), is heavily concentrated in a few key regions. These regions are characterized by large herd sizes, efficient production systems, and established trade routes.
Major Regional Exporters of Live Bovine Animals (HS 0102 / SITC 001) - 2023
Based on 2023 trade statistics, Europe and North America dominate the export market by value, mainly due to intra-regional trade and specialized production.
| Rank | Region | Key Exporting Countries | Estimated Export Value (in Billion US$) | Primary Drivers |
| 1 | Europe (Primarily EU) | France, Netherlands, Spain | $3.5 - $4.0 Billion | Finishing Trade: Exporting young cattle to Italy and other EU partners for fattening and slaughter. |
| 2 | North America | Canada, Mexico, United States | $2.7 - $3.0 Billion | Feedlot Supply: Exporting feeder cattle to the United States for finishing and processing. |
| 3 | Oceania | Australia, New Zealand | $0.6 - $0.8 Billion | Logistics and Health Status: Exporting live cattle to Southeast Asia (e.g., Indonesia) and the Middle East, often facilitated by disease-free status. |
| 4 | South America | Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia | $0.6 - $0.7 Billion | Global Demand: Supplying specialized markets, including for breeding and direct slaughter, particularly in the Middle East. |
Note: The total global export value for Live Bovine Animals (HS 0102) was approximately $10.9 Billion in 2023. Regional values are estimates based on aggregating top country data within the SITC 00/001 category. The dominance of France (approx. $1.88B), Canada (approx. $1.34B), and Mexico (approx. $1.08B) largely defines these regional totals.
Conclusion
The UN Comtrade SITC 00/001 data clearly shows that Europe and North America are the two largest exporting regions for live cattle. However, this trade is highly contextual:
European Trade is primarily an internal, specialized supply chain where member states move cattle to major fattening centers.
North American Trade is driven by the logistical and economic integration of the U.S. beef processing industry with Canadian and Mexican cattle supply.
Oceania and South America focus more on extra-regional exports, capitalizing on large herd numbers and a favorable animal health status to reach high-demand markets in Asia and the Middle East.
This specialized nature of live cattle exports means that changes in veterinary regulations (e.g., disease outbreaks) or trade agreements can cause significant shifts in regional export values.
🐂 UN Comtrade SITC 0: Global Live Cattle Export Value by Country
The trade of live cattle is a high-value segment of global agriculture. UN Comtrade tracks this data under the Harmonized System (HS) code 0102 (Live bovine animals), which is categorized within the broader SITC heading 001 (Live animals other than animals of division 03).
The table below highlights the leading global exporters of Live Bovine Animals by value, based on the most recent UN Comtrade data (primarily 2023/2024 preliminary figures).
Top Global Exporters of Live Bovine Animals (HS 0102 / SITC 001) - 2024
| Rank | Country | Export Value (in Billion US$) | Primary Export Market/Destination | Trade Context |
| 1 | France | $1.79 Billion | Italy, Spain, other EU countries | Major supplier for the European finishing industry. |
| 2 | Canada | $1.64 Billion | United States | Highly integrated North American supply chain for feeder cattle. |
| 3 | Brazil | $0.85 Billion | Middle East, Turkey, Vietnam | Major global exporter, leveraging vast herd size and low-cost production. |
| 4 | Mexico | $0.79 Billion | United States | Key supplier of young cattle to the U.S. feedlot system. |
| 5 | Australia | $0.49 Billion | Indonesia, Vietnam, Middle East | Focus on extra-regional exports, often to Asia/Oceania. |
| 6 | United States | $0.41 Billion | Canada, Mexico, China, Japan | Exports high-value breeding stock and limited non-breeding cattle. |
| 7 | Czech Republic | $0.27 Billion | Other EU countries | Significant intra-European trade flows. |
| 8 | Spain | $0.25 Billion | Other EU countries (e.g., Italy) | Active exporter within the European Single Market. |
| 9 | Uruguay | $0.24 Billion | Middle East, Brazil | South American exporter with strong access to key foreign markets. |
| 10 | Ireland | $0.23 Billion | Other EU countries | Exports calves and store cattle, mostly to the EU mainland. |
Source: World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) based on UN Comtrade data for HS 010290 ('Live bovine animals, other than pure-bred breed') for 2024 preliminary data.
Conclusion
The UN Comtrade export data for SITC 001 (Live Cattle) reveals that the global supply is dominated by three major trade dynamics:
European Integration: France and other EU nations (Czech Republic, Spain, Ireland) leverage the single market to move young cattle across borders for specialized fattening and processing in countries like Italy.
North American Corridor: Canada and Mexico function as critical feeders for the massive beef processing and feedlot industry in the United States.
Commodity & Logistics: Brazil and Australia focus on global exports to non-contiguous markets, utilizing their scale and animal health status to supply high-demand regions in Asia (Indonesia) and the Middle East.
These top ten countries account for a substantial majority of the global trade value, underscoring the centralized nature of the inte
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🐂 UN Comtrade SITC 0: High-Value Live Bovine Animals Export Value by Region
The high-value global export market for Live Bovine Animals (Cattle), which is primarily categorized under SITC 001 and specifically HS 0102, is dominated by a few interconnected regions that specialize in the production and movement of feeder and slaughter cattle.
The total global export value for the HS 0102 category (Live Bovine Animals) reached approximately $10.9 Billion in 2023. This value is heavily concentrated in the regions shown below.
High-Value Live Bovine Animal Export Value by Region (2023)
The following table breaks down the export value based on aggregated country data from UN Comtrade for HS 0102 (Live Bovine Animals).
| Rank | Region | Key Exporting Countries | Estimated Export Value (in Billion US$) | Primary Export Context |
| 1 | Europe (Primarily EU) | France, Czech Republic, Spain, Netherlands | $3.5 - $4.5 Billion | Intra-EU Feeder Trade: Dominates global value by supplying young cattle for specialized finishing in high-demand EU markets like Italy and Germany. |
| 2 | North America | Canada, Mexico, United States | $2.7 - $3.0 Billion | Integrated Supply Chain: Exporting large volumes of feeder cattle to the vast United States processing and feedlot system. |
| 3 | South America | Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia | $0.7 - $1.0 Billion | Global Commodity: Uses large herd numbers to service diverse, long-distance markets, including the Middle East and Asia. |
| 4 | Oceania | Australia, New Zealand | $0.5 - $0.8 Billion | Biosecurity Advantage: Key supplier of live cattle to Southeast Asia (e.g., Indonesia) and the Middle East, leveraging high animal health standards. |
Source: Aggregated UN Comtrade data for HS 0102 (Live Bovine Animals) for 2023.
Analysis of Regional Export Dynamics
Europe's Dominance (Intra-Regional Trade):
France alone is the top country-level exporter globally, highlighting Europe's specialization in the production and movement of feeder stock to countries with high finishing/slaughter capacity. The European Union's customs union facilitates these high-volume, high-value cross-border flows.
The North American Integrated Market:
The export values from Canada and Mexico are highly dependent on the United States, their primary importer. This forms a single, tightly integrated supply chain where cattle move south for finishing.
Global Long-Haul Suppliers (South America & Oceania):
Exporters in South America (Brazil) and Oceania (Australia) are crucial for supplying regions lacking domestic production capacity, such as the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. Their high export values are achieved through long-distance shipping of commodity cattle.
The high-value segment of the global live cattle export market is thus driven by regional integration in the North and commodity supply from the South, all tracked by the detailed data of UN Comtrade's SITC and HS codes.
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🐂 UN Comtrade SITC 0: High-Value Live Bovine Animals Export Value by Country
The trade of Live Bovine Animals (Cattle) is the single highest-value component within the SITC 00 category for live animals. The most valuable trade primarily falls under HS Code 010290 (Live bovine animals, other than pure-bred breeding stock), which accounts for the vast majority of cross-border shipments for feeder cattle and slaughter cattle.
The table below presents the top global exporters of this high-value category, reflecting the specialized and interconnected nature of global beef production, based on the most recent UN Comtrade data (2024 preliminary figures).
Top Global Exporters of Live Bovine Animals (HS 010290) - 2024
| Rank | Country | Export Value (in Billion US$) | Primary Export Market/Destination | Key Trade Role |
| 1 | France | $1.79 Billion | Italy, Spain, other EU countries | European Feeder Stock: Major supplier of young cattle within the EU single market. |
| 2 | Canada | $1.64 Billion | United States | North American Feeder Stock: Integrated supplier for the vast U.S. feedlot and processing industry. |
| 3 | Brazil | $0.85 Billion | Middle East, Turkey, Vietnam | Global Commodity Supplier: Utilizes large herds to service high-volume, long-distance markets. |
| 4 | Mexico | $0.79 Billion | United States | North American Feeder Stock: Key source of cattle for U.S. processing plants. |
| 5 | Australia | $0.49 Billion | Indonesia, Vietnam, Middle East | Biosecurity Exporter: Supplies disease-sensitive Asian and Middle Eastern markets via specialized sea transport. |
| 6 | United States | $0.41 Billion | Canada, Mexico, China, Japan | Exporter of high-value genetic/breeding stock and limited commodity cattle. |
| 7 | Czech Republic | $0.27 Billion | Germany, Austria, other EU countries | Intra-EU Trade: Contributes to the movement of animals across Europe for finishing. |
| 8 | Spain | $0.25 Billion | Italy, Lebanon, Libya | Mediterranean Hub: Exports live animals to both EU and North African/Middle Eastern markets. |
| 9 | Uruguay | $0.24 Billion | Turkey, Brazil, Israel | South American Supplier: Exports to niche markets and regional partners. |
| 10 | Ireland | $0.23 Billion | Spain, Italy, France | Intra-EU Trade: Exports calves and older stock, leveraging EU trade advantages. |
Source: UN Comtrade data for HS 010290 ('Live bovine animals, other than pure-bred breed') for 2024 preliminary data, aggregated via WITS. Note that exports of pure-bred breeding animals (HS 010210), while included in the SITC 001 category, are much lower in total value.
Conclusion
The high-value segment of the global live cattle export market is primarily driven by the trade of non-breeding stock for immediate feeding and slaughter. The data highlights a concentration of value in:
The European Union, where countries like France lead the world by value, supplying internal finishing markets.
The North American Corridor, where Canada and Mexico integrate their supply directly into the high-demand U.S. processing sector.
Global Suppliers like Brazil and Australia, who command significant export values by servicing distant, high-volume markets in Asia and the Middle East.
This trade is essential for global food security, demonstrating complex supply chains highly sensitive to veterinary health, trade agreements, and regional demand dynamics.