EU fresh and frozen beef imports from the Mercosur countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay were 79,211 tonnes (t) for the first half of 2025.
This is almost 6,500t higher than for the same period last year and is the highest half-year total in the past 15 years of European Commission published data, which goes back to 2010 (see Figure 1).
This reflects a combination of shifting global trade patterns in 2025 driven by US trade policy and a further decline in EU beef production.
In the first half of 2025, EU countries combined produced 3.142m tonnes of beef carcase weight equivalent (CWE) according to European Commission data.
This is the lowest half-year total since 2014 and reflects a progressive decline in the number of cattle presented for slaughter, which is at its lowest point for the first half of the year since 2009.
Push and pull effect on trade
If less production in the EU is having a pull effect on imports, the push is coming from Mercosur countries, Brazil in particular having more product to export.
This is happening at a time when demand from China, which had expanded rapidly for more than a decade, started to decline in 2025.
Brazil’s beef exports had grown at a similar rate as China’s demand increased and have continued to grow this year.
Given the historical trading relationship with the EU, it is unsurprising that the EU again quickly becomes an alternative market, especially for the highest value cuts of beef.
The need for Brazil to find new markets for beef exports and restore old markets accelerated with the US imposing a penal additional 50% tariffs on beef imports from Brazil from 6 August this year.
Up to the end of August this year, Brazil has exported 86,607t of beef to the EU compared with 66,917t in the same period last year.
In the month of August, which was the first month in which the higher US tariffs featured, Brazil’s beef exports to the EU were 13,339t, up from 10,473t in August last year.
This is for all types of beef and the data is published by ABIEC, the trade association that represent meat processors in Brazil.
Comment – beef imports haven’t been flooding EU market
While the volume of beef imports from Mercosur countries is at a 15-year high, the spread of tonnage imported has remained relatively consistent over that period.
The only occasion when imports dipped below 60,000t was in the first half of 2020, when trade was seriously disrupted by COVID-19, and 2012. On four other occasions, they have risen above 70,000t, apart from this year.
The EU will become a more lucrative market for Mercosur beef exports if the trade deal with the EU comes into effect, reducing tariffs for 99,000t of beef to 7.5%.
The overall increase in volume of EU imports from Mercosur may not increase dramatically in the context of the overall EU beef market. However, the likelihood is that additional trade will be concentrated on the high-value steak meat cuts, which increases the risk of a disproportionate effect.
Read more
EU beef imports from Brazil hit 15-year-high
Mercosur deal hard to stop
Decision time on Mercosur trade deal
EU fresh and frozen beef imports from the Mercosur countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay were 79,211 tonnes (t) for the first half of 2025.
This is almost 6,500t higher than for the same period last year and is the highest half-year total in the past 15 years of European Commission published data, which goes back to 2010 (see Figure 1).
This reflects a combination of shifting global trade patterns in 2025 driven by US trade policy and a further decline in EU beef production.
In the first half of 2025, EU countries combined produced 3.142m tonnes of beef carcase weight equivalent (CWE) according to European Commission data.
This is the lowest half-year total since 2014 and reflects a progressive decline in the number of cattle presented for slaughter, which is at its lowest point for the first half of the year since 2009.
Push and pull effect on trade
If less production in the EU is having a pull effect on imports, the push is coming from Mercosur countries, Brazil in particular having more product to export.
This is happening at a time when demand from China, which had expanded rapidly for more than a decade, started to decline in 2025.
Brazil’s beef exports had grown at a similar rate as China’s demand increased and have continued to grow this year.
Given the historical trading relationship with the EU, it is unsurprising that the EU again quickly becomes an alternative market, especially for the highest value cuts of beef.
The need for Brazil to find new markets for beef exports and restore old markets accelerated with the US imposing a penal additional 50% tariffs on beef imports from Brazil from 6 August this year.
Up to the end of August this year, Brazil has exported 86,607t of beef to the EU compared with 66,917t in the same period last year.
In the month of August, which was the first month in which the higher US tariffs featured, Brazil’s beef exports to the EU were 13,339t, up from 10,473t in August last year.
This is for all types of beef and the data is published by ABIEC, the trade association that represent meat processors in Brazil.
Comment – beef imports haven’t been flooding EU market
While the volume of beef imports from Mercosur countries is at a 15-year high, the spread of tonnage imported has remained relatively consistent over that period.
The only occasion when imports dipped below 60,000t was in the first half of 2020, when trade was seriously disrupted by COVID-19, and 2012. On four other occasions, they have risen above 70,000t, apart from this year.
The EU will become a more lucrative market for Mercosur beef exports if the trade deal with the EU comes into effect, reducing tariffs for 99,000t of beef to 7.5%.
The overall increase in volume of EU imports from Mercosur may not increase dramatically in the context of the overall EU beef market. However, the likelihood is that additional trade will be concentrated on the high-value steak meat cuts, which increases the risk of a disproportionate effect.
Read more
EU beef imports from Brazil hit 15-year-high
Mercosur deal hard to stop
Decision time on Mercosur trade deal
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