EN 
PT_BR 
Recent data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) once again shows that beef production has not kept pace with export growth. In the first half of this year, the volume of beef exported (both fresh and processed) exceeded shipments in the same period in 2024 by 164,100 tons, while formal production increased by only 122,000 tons.
Photo: Claudio Neves
Researchers from the Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics (Cepea), at Esalq/USP, indicate that, as a result of lower domestic availability, beef and meat prices have moved to a new level since last year.
Average beef prices (CEPEA/ESALQ Indicator) and meat prices (whole beef carcasses in Greater São Paulo) are approximately 35% higher than a year ago, in real terms (already adjusted for inflation). According to Cepea researchers, the data clearly show that the share of exports in the flow of beef produced has also increased.
In the first half of 2024, 25.1% of formal production were sent abroad; in the first six months of 2025, it was 28.7%. Cepea researchers emphasize that the increase also occurs from the first to the second quarter of 2025: from 27.4% to 29.9%, which represents the largest share of the external sector in history.
Foreign market
In the first half of August, exports of Brazilian beef remained strong, even with the tariff barrier imposed by the United States. The average daily shipment of fresh beef was 12,300 tons, an increase of almost 25% over the average observed in August last year and 2.5% above July, the month of record exports. If exports continue at this pace, August exports should break the record. The dollar has depreciated since July, but the average price in dollars has risen enough to keep the value in Real stable – R$ 30,680/ton of fresh beef.
