Brazil’s beef exports increased by 15.5% for the first half of 2026 to a record 1.7m tonnes – up from 1.476m tonnes in the same period last year.
The data was compiled and published by ABIEC, the trade association that represents Brazil’s meat exporters.
In the month of June, the volume exported was 317,300 tonnes, an increase of 16.6% compared with June last year, when all types of beef and offal were included.
Primary beef exports accounted for 279,700 tonnes, or just over 88% of total beef exports.
Markets
China was the main export market for Brazilian beef in June and for every other month so far this year.
In June, the volume exported to China was 161,900 tonnes, an increase of 19% compared with June last year.
This brought Brazil’s beef exports to China for the first half of the year to 794,000 tonnes, which is 24% more than it was in the same period in 2025.
The one that matters most to Irish farmers and exporters is Australia's growth in volumes to the UK
The US was its next largest market, taking 205,000 tonnes in the first half of the year, a 13% increase year on year, followed by Chile on 70,000 tonnes, a 20% increase.
Russia was next on 62,000 tonnes, a jump of 53% in volume. The European Union market also increased with volume up 18% to 51,000 tonnes – Brazil's third highest value market at $452.3m (€397m), a 53.5% increase on last year.
Australia
Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) has also published Australia’s beef export results for the first half of 2026. It showed an increase compared with the same period last year, up 103,000 tonnes, compared with the first half of 2025 to 805,376 tonnes.
It's main export market is the US and in the first half of 2026, beef exports to the US were 20% higher than the previous year at 243,000 tonnes. China was next 144,619 tonnes followed by South Korea on 142,000 tonnes.
The one that matters most to Irish farmers and exporters is Australia's growth in volumes to the UK. At 11,816 tonnes in the first half of 2026, the UK is still a tiny market in the overall context of Australian beef exports but it has been growing, particularly over the past year.
Both Australia and Brazil have significantly increased their beef exports in the first half of the year even though USDA had forecast a drop in volumes from Brazil and a similar volume from Australia.
There is however a significant difference for both countries this year compared with 2025 in that they both have been given quotas by China, which are well under the volumes they supplied last year.
Australia has already filled its quota for the year and Brazil is expected to do likewise in the coming weeks.
Anything supplied out of quota will carry a 55% tariff and this will have encouraged exporters to maximise their volumes when the quota was available, rather than spread the trade across the entire year.
Safeguard clause
Australia has also reached the level of exports to South Korea that triggers the safeguard clause which increases the tariff it pays there – from 5% to 25% – less prohibitive than the China tariff but still an added cost.
This new tariff position will mean adjustment by both countries in the second half of the year. Brazil faces an added complication in that its exports to the EU are effectively suspended from September – unless it finds a way to comply with the EU rules on antibiotics, which is thought unlikely.
Given that world’s two largest beef exporters are effectively shut out of the world’s largest importer in the second half of the year presents a challenge not experienced in recent times.
For Australia, the UK market could be a target for further growth building on its current success. In time, when the trade deal with the EU comes into effect, the wider European market will also be a target. By the end of this year, Irish beef exports could face less competition from Brazilian beef but more from Australian beef.
EU doubles down on Brazilian beef ban