US meat processor Tyson Foods reported its second-quarter and half-year results this week.

They show that overall operating income for the quarter ending 28 March was $435m (€371m), up from $100m (€85m) in the same quarter last year on total sales of $13.653bn (€11.669bn) which were up from just over $13bn (€11.1bn) in the same period in 2025.

For the half year, sales were $27.966bn (€23.902bn), up from $26.697bn (€22.818bn) a year ago with operating income at $737m (€630m) compared with $680m (€581m) in the first half of the previous year.

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Beef performance

Beef accounted for $5.2bn (€4.44bn) of Tyson sales in the second quarter and an operating loss of $240m (€205m) and for the half year sales were $10.976bn (€9.381bn) with operating losses of $559m (€478m).

This compares with similar sales of just under $5.2bn (€4.44bn) and an operating loss of $222m (€190m) in the second quarter last year with the 2025 half year results showing sales of $10.531bn (€9bn) and an operating loss of $248m (€212m).

Analysis of the sales shows that in the second quarter, the volume was down 13.1% compared with a year earlier but prices were 11.5% higher.

During this period, Tyson stopped production at one of their large cattle processing factories.

In its outlook for the remainder of the 2026 financial year which runs until 30 September, Tyson highlights USDA projections for a 2% reduction in US production and they estimate an adjusted operating loss between $500m (€427m) and $350m (€299m).

Chicken, prepared foods and pork

The other main segments of Tyson Foods all reported a strong performance in the second quarter.

Chicken delivered an operating income of $505m (€432m), up from $367m (€314m) the year before on sales of $4.286bn (€3.663bn). The operating income from prepared foods was $348m (€297m) on sales of $2.511bn (€2.15bn) while pork returned a $41m (€35m) operating income on sales of $1.579bn (€1.350bn) having lost $181m (€155m) in the same quarter the previous year.