Both Australia and Brazil recorded large increases in the volume of beef they exported in March 2026 compared with March last year.

Australian beef exports for the month were 149,973 tonnes, just under the record of 150,435 tonnes, the highest monthly total ever recorded by Meat and Livestock Australia in July 2025. Their beef exports for March are well ahead of the 112,423 tonnes exported in March last year.

The United States is Australia’s main export market for beef, followed by the large beef importing nations in Asia, particularly China, Japan and South Korea. Between them they account for the vast majority of Australian beef exports. However, their performance in the EU and UK is what is of most relevance for Irish farmers given that these are the markets where they come into direct competition with Irish beef and sheepmeat.

Australian trade with UK

As Figure 1 shows, Australian beef exports to the UK in March were 1,986 tonnes – almost three times the 677 tonnes exported in March last year. Meat and Livestock Australia also publish exports to a selection of EU countries. In March 2026, 715 tonnes of Australian beef were exported to these countries, slightly more than the 591 tonnes exported in the same month last year. EU tariffs on Australian beef and sheepmeat ahead of the quota coming into place with the recently agreed trade deal, serves as a barrier to Australian beef exports to the EU.

A trade deal between the UK and Australia has been in place since June 2023. Over the past year in particular, this has helped make the UK a market of increasing interest to Australian exporters.

However, in the context of their beef exports overall, it remains a small market. For sheepmeat, as Figure 2 shows the UK is now established as a significant destination for exports, taking 2,750 tonnes in March, which is slightly more than a year ago. As is the case with beef, in the context of overall Australian sheepmeat exports, the UK is small at just around 5% of all exports in this category.

Brazil’s beef exports continue upward trend

Even though USDA forecast that Brazil’s beef exports would decline this year, ABIEC, data shows that their exports in the first quarter of 2026 show a substantial 18.4% increase to 801,900 tonnes. In 2025, Brazil’s beef exports increased by 20% compared with the year before. For the month of March 270,800 tonnes of beef was exported, a 9% increase on the same month last year.

China is to Brazilian beef exports what the UK is to Irish beef exports – they take almost half of the total volume shipped. In the first quarter of 2026, they exported 335,300 tonnes to that market with the US in second place taking 107,400 tonnes.

China has introduced a quota for beef imports in 2026 with a penal 55% tariff applicable for any beef supplied above the volume allocated. Both Brazil and Australia supplied much more beef to China in 2025 than the quota they have been allocated for 2026 and both countries are on target to fill their quotas well ahead of the year end

As Figure 3 shows, Brazil’s beef exports to the EU have been consistently strong over the past year. In the first quarter of 2026, 32,421 tonnes of Brazilian beef was exported to the EU, up from 28,148 tonnes in the same period last year.

Comment – Increasing exports need markets

Neither the EU nor UK are main destinations for either Brazilian or Australian beef exports or indeed Australian sheepmeat exports. However, exports of beef from both countries are in a prolonged period of expansion and that requires additional markets.

Fortunately this expansion has coincided with a period of increasing US beef imports due to the fact that the US cattle herd has fallen to a 75-year low. That means that the US has absorbed an increasing amount of Australian and Brazilian beef, particularly over the past year.

It may therefore appear that all of this is of little significance to Irish farmers or beef exporters as Irish beef exports aren’t relevant in either the US, China or in any other Asian markets, and in absolute terms the UK and EU are small export markets for Brazil and Australia.

However China has introduced a quota for beef imports in 2026 with a penal 55% tariff applicable for any beef supplied above the volume allocated. Both Brazil and Australia supplied much more beef to China in 2025 than the quota they have been allocated for 2026 and both countries are on target to fill their quotas well ahead of the year end. That means that they are likely to be seeking more market options as an alternative to paying a 55% tariff in China. This is where the impact could be felt by Irish beef producers and exporters. Australia has a trade deal in place with the UK and one just agreed with the EU while the Mercosur deal comes into effect from 1 May making Brazil’s beef exports to the EU more competitive. More Australian or Brazilian beef in UK or EU markets means more competition for Irish beef.