Second-quarter financial results from JBS, the world’s largest meat processor, showed that the company recorded a net profit of $528.1m (€452m) in the three months to June on sales of almost $21bn (€18bn).
The headline figure was driven by a significant rise in profitability at the company’s Pilgrim Pride poultry unit and Seara Foods business. The US beef business struggled, posting a loss of almost $300m (€257m) in the quarter, despite an increase in revenue of more than $800m (€685m) when compared to the same period in 2024.
Worst moment
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JBS said that the industry is facing possibly the worst moment of the beef cycle, with low availability of animals for slaughter. The squeeze on supply was further exacerbated by the suspension by the US of live cattle imports from Mexico due to an outbreak of the flesh-eating screwworm in that country.
The lack of domestic supply has pushed US cattle prices to historically high levels, with that growth outpacing the increase in wholesale cattle prices. JBS also noted that the industry in the US faced additional challenges related to accessing international markets due to changes in the North American regulatory landscape – presumably a reference to US President Donald Trump’s trade polices.
The company told investors that it expects the shortage of cattle for slaughter in the US to continue for another year, with a gradual improvement in the herd happening from 2027.
JBS noted that despite the increases in retail prices for beef in the US, domestic consumption remained resilient.
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Second-quarter financial results from JBS, the world’s largest meat processor, showed that the company recorded a net profit of $528.1m (€452m) in the three months to June on sales of almost $21bn (€18bn).
The headline figure was driven by a significant rise in profitability at the company’s Pilgrim Pride poultry unit and Seara Foods business. The US beef business struggled, posting a loss of almost $300m (€257m) in the quarter, despite an increase in revenue of more than $800m (€685m) when compared to the same period in 2024.
Worst moment
JBS said that the industry is facing possibly the worst moment of the beef cycle, with low availability of animals for slaughter. The squeeze on supply was further exacerbated by the suspension by the US of live cattle imports from Mexico due to an outbreak of the flesh-eating screwworm in that country.
The lack of domestic supply has pushed US cattle prices to historically high levels, with that growth outpacing the increase in wholesale cattle prices. JBS also noted that the industry in the US faced additional challenges related to accessing international markets due to changes in the North American regulatory landscape – presumably a reference to US President Donald Trump’s trade polices.
The company told investors that it expects the shortage of cattle for slaughter in the US to continue for another year, with a gradual improvement in the herd happening from 2027.
JBS noted that despite the increases in retail prices for beef in the US, domestic consumption remained resilient.
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