Brazilian beef exports maintained a rapid pace in the first five months of 2026, reaching the highest volume ever recorded for the period in the historical series of the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex), which began in 1997. Between January and May, Brazil shipped 1.36 million tons of the protein, an increase of 14.41% compared to the same period in 2025 and 26.61% compared to the first five months of 2024.<\/p>\n
In addition to the record volume, the sector also achieved the highest revenue in history for the period. Accumulated revenue from exports reached R$40.207 billion by May, a value 20.241 billion higher than the R$33.44 billion recorded between January and May of last year.<\/p>\n
According to researchers from the Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics (Cepea), the performance was favored by the combination of the appreciation of the dollar against the real and the increase in the average price paid for Brazilian beef in the international market. In the accumulated year, the exported ton was traded, on average, for around R$ 29,500.<\/p>\n
In May alone, shipments totaled 290,453 thousand tons, an increase of 2.51% compared to April and 17.21% compared to May 2025. Revenue for the month reached R$9.04 billion, the highest monthly result of 2026 so far.<\/p>\n
The average value received for exports in May was R$ 31,135.21 per ton, which guaranteed an increase of 5.35% in revenue compared to the previous month and 28.08% compared to the same period last year.<\/p>\n
According to researchers at Cepea, the strong performance of exports reinforces the strategic importance of the international market for Brazilian livestock farming. This scenario gains relevance during a transition period between harvest and off-season, a time marked by a slight increase in the supply of animals ready for slaughter, weakened domestic demand, and greater competitiveness from competing proteins in the domestic market.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n