Brazilian beef exports have surged this year, with a 12.6% increase through May compared to the same period last year, reaching a total of 1.348 million tons.
The growth was driven by strong demand from the United States, which purchased a total of 321.82 thousand tons of Brazilian beef in the first five months of the year—a 78.7% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This volume generated revenue of USD 1.082 billion, a significant increase of 112.4% from the USD 509.9 million recorded in the first five months of last year.
According to the Brazilian Meat Packers Association (Abrafrigo), the U.S. share of total export revenue rose from 10.5% last year to 18.2% this year.
Analysts point to reduced domestic supply in the U.S.—due to herd shrinkage, adverse weather conditions, and rising production costs—as the main reason behind the increased appetite for Brazilian beef. The market does not expect U.S. herd recovery to materialize in the short term.
China remains the largest buyer of Brazilian beef, accounting for 41.5% of total export revenue from January to May 2025 (slightly down from 43.6% in the same period last year). Chinese imports totaled 497.52 thousand tons (a 4.5% increase), generating USD 2.465 billion in revenue (up 16.6%).
The average price per ton also rose from USD 4,048 to USD 4,405. As a result, total revenue from sales in the first five months of 2025 grew by 22.5% to USD 5.941 billion.
Chile was the third-largest importer, with 49.33 thousand tons, a 28.4% increase over the first five months of the year. Revenue reached USD 263.1 million, up 44.6%.