Beef exports totaled 234,000 tons in March.

The fat cattle market registered an increase in value in the first quarter of 2026, driven by increased exports and a lower supply of animals for slaughter, especially females. The scenario was also marked by greater activity in the replacement market, with the rise in cattle prices stimulating demand for calves.

In March, the average price of fat cattle reached R$ 350 per arroba. In the average of the first ten days of April, the value rose to R$ 362/@, with deals registered at R$ 365.50/@ at the end of the week, according to data from Itaú BBA Agro Consulting.

The tighter supply of animals helped to support prices. Preliminary data indicate that cattle slaughter was 2% lower in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, with an increase of 1% in male slaughter and a decrease of 6% in female slaughter.

In the replacement market, calves also showed price increases. In Mato Grosso do Sul, the increase was 3.4% in March, exceeding the advance of finished cattle. Despite the exchange ratio remaining pressured, at around 2.2 calves per head of cattle sold, the replacement margin remained attractive, close to R$ 3,600 in the partial data for April, which keeps demand strong.

Exports of fresh beef continued at a strong pace. In March, shipments totaled 234,000 tons, a record for the month and an increase of 8.71% compared to March 2025. In the first quarter, the accumulated growth was 19.71% compared to March 2025. The average price of exported beef also increased by 3.11% compared to February.

China remained the main destination for Brazilian beef, with 102,000 tons shipped in March, a 61% increase compared to the same period last year. Other markets also increased their purchases, such as the United States, Chile, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates, reinforcing external demand for the Brazilian product.