China Imported 912,000 Tons of Brazilian Beef in First Nine Months of 2026(Oct 13)

China Imported 912,000 Tons of Brazilian Beef in First Nine Months of 2026

September Export Data

According to the latest statistics from the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporters (Abiec) released on October 7, Brazil exported 229,300 tons of beef in September, a 35.1% decrease from 353,100 tons in the same month last year. September export revenue totaled USD 1.38 billion, down 27.6% from USD 1.9 billion in the same period last year.

Cumulative January-September Performance

Cumulative exports for January through September reached 2.43 million tons, essentially flat compared to 2.44 million tons in the same period of 2025. Total revenue for the first nine months was USD 14.17 billion, up 14.1% from USD 12.42 billion year-on-year, reflecting global beef price support and product structure upgrades despite stable volumes.

China Remains Top Destination

China remains the primary export destination for Brazilian beef. In the first nine months of 2026, Brazil exported 912,000 tons of beef to China, generating USD 5.59 billion in revenue. Compared to the same period in 2025, export volume declined 20.9% and export value decreased 7.8%. China accounted for 37.5% of total export volume and 39.4% of total export value.

Diversification Efforts

While Chinese demand contracted, other markets showed strong growth. The United States imported 317,400 tons (+45%), Chile 126,700 tons (+38.2%), Russia 109,400 tons (+28.6%), and Indonesia 64,700 tons (+294.8%). However, these increases could not fully offset the gap left by reduced Chinese purchases, as the US cumulative volume of 317,400 tons represented less than one-third of the Chinese market volume.

55% Safeguard Tariff Impact

The sharp decline in September exports to China was primarily driven by the 55% safeguard tariff currently in effect, which suppresses the price competitiveness of Brazilian beef. September shipments to China totaled only 12,900 tons, a 93.2% year-on-year plunge, with export value of USD 75.2 million, down 92.9%. Abiec Chairman Roberto Perosa noted that recent monthly export rhythm directly reflects reduced Chinese demand, and while other markets are improving, they cannot automatically fill the gap left by China.

Preparing for 2027 Quota Cycle

Abiec indicated that Brazilian enterprises plan to initiate China-bound sales planning from mid-October through November, locking in shipping contracts to ensure products arrive within the new 2027 quota cycle. Perosa emphasized that from a commercial perspective, distributing sales evenly throughout the year is the optimal approach, as concentrated end-of-quota shipments can cause short-term domestic supply shocks and price pressure.