Brazil’s beef sector loses US$700 mln to U.S. tariffs, but overall export revenue climbs

Despite the additional tariffs imposed by the United States government on Brazilian products, total beef exports in October recorded revenue of US$1.897 billion, an increase of 37.4% compared to the same period in 2024.

In the month, 360.28 thousand tonnes were shipped, representing a 12.8% increase versus the previous year.

The decline in exports destined for the U.S. — with estimated losses of US$700 million between August and October — was offset by increased sales to other markets.

The data come from the Brazilian Association of Meatpackers (Abrafrigo), compiled from statistics from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex) of the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC). The information includes fresh and industrialized beef, edible offal, beef tallow, and other byproducts of the beef chain.

According to Abrafrigo, the accumulated total for the first 10 months of 2025 reached a record US$14.655 billion, an increase of 36% compared to the same period in 2024. Exported volume was also a record: 3.148 million tonnes, an advance of 18% on the year.

Below is a historical record of Brazilian beef exports starting in January 2022. The chart was prepared with DataLiner data:

Brazilian Beef Exports | Jan 2022 to Sep 202 | TEU

Source: DataLiner (Click here to request a demo)

For the United States — the second-largest buyer of Brazilian beef — sales have been losing strength. Exports of fresh beef to the country fell 54% in October, to US$58 million, still showing some resilience even after the tariff increase, according to Abrafrigo. In the case of industrialized beef, the drop was 20.3%, to US$24.9 million, while tallow and other bovine fats plummeted 70.4%, to US$5.7 million.

Even with the sharp recent decline, the accumulated figures from January to October 2025 still show a 40.4% increase in exports to the United States, totaling US$1.796 billion — a result that reflects the accelerated pace of sales before the “super tariff.” Considering only the period from August to October, when the extra tariffs went into effect, total sales of beef and byproducts to the U.S. fell 36.4%, generating estimated losses of around US$ 700 million.

“Although these losses have been more than offset by increased sales to other markets, the fact is that Brazil’s beef exports could be even higher if the punitive tariffs imposed by the United States government had not been applied,” the association said.

China remains the main destination. From January to October 2025, exports to the country totaled US$ 7.060 billion and 1.323 million tonnes, increases of 45.8% and 21.4%, respectively.

The European Union, considered as a single market, was the second-largest destination for Brazilian beef in October 2025. Sales to the bloc grew 112% compared to the same month of the previous year, totaling US$ 140 million. From January to October, exports to the EU increased 70.2%, reaching US$ 815.9 million — with average prices of US$ 8,362 per tonne of fresh beef.

Source: Money Times

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