News

The European Union announced that it will exclude Brazil from the list of countries authorized to export meat and other animal-origin products to the bloc starting on September 3, arguing that the guarantees presented by the country regarding the control of antimicrobial use as growth promoters in animal production are insufficient.

China announced that, starting May 1, 2026, it will implement zero tariff treatment on all goods from the 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations. In addition, China will upgrade its "green channel" for African agricultural exports, further expanding market access for high-quality products including beef, poultry, and seafood, informed OIG+X.

Slaughter cattle prices extended their upward trend. One cattle buyer from a processing plant quoted list prices of US$ 4.75 per kg carcass weight for common males and US$ 4.35-4.40 per kg for finished cows, with shipments being scheduled for May 25.

Export cattle prices generally remained within the ranges seen in the previous week, although there was a decline of Ar$ 100 for the higher-quality steers.

The conditions in the slaughter cattle market have not changed: a minimal supply of grassfed finished cattle, demand that remains interested in buying, and short slaughter schedules.

The first export requests for lamb to the Israeli market have started to appear with prices that, as in the case of beef, are above those prevailing before the Passover break.

The slaughter cattle market maintained its downward price trend, although declines were smaller than in the previous two weeks.

The average finished male price in the main cattle-producing regions fell by R$ 2.2 over the week to R$/@ 338, accumulating a decline of R$ 11.8 over the last three weeks. The references are based on state data from consultancy Scot, excluding the Funrural tax and with 30-day payment terms.

Cattle slaughter in Mato Grosso, Brazil’s largest cattle-producing state, totaled 586.87 thousand head in April, a monthly decline of 6.39%. The decrease was observed in both males (-6.73%) and females (-6.07%), which totaled 281.58 thousand and 305.29 thousand head, respectively.

The average value of slaughter cattle remains firm with moderate increases across Mercosur. Price increases were recorded in Uruguay and Paraguay, while slight declines were seen in Brazil and Argentina.

Cattle slaughter in April across Mercosur countries is estimated at 3.52 million head, about 320 thousand fewer than the previous month, a decline of 8.3%. The figures include export plants in Brazil and Paraguay, and approved plants in Argentina and Uruguay.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market is showing some signs of increased commercial activity, with Brazil resuming a more aggressive stance to place volume, in a context that may be influenced by weaker Chinese demand. “There is a lot of offer from Brazil. They came back eager to sell,” commented a regional trader.

If the US market had already been somewhat slower in recent weeks due to certain excess supply from different suppliers and calmer buying interest from some major importers, the announcement and immediate reversal by Donald Trump’s administration to reduce the 26.4% out-of-quota tariff on beef imports from all suppliers in order to ease domestic prices (see North America) “generated more noise” and “paralysis” in the market, according to a regional broker.

The Chilean market continues to show mixed signals, with some deals concluded from Brazil, while Paraguay faces strong supply restrictions.

The Hilton business has started to lose dynamism compared to other commercial alternatives, in a European market that remains active but with greater resistance to validating prices.

Next week will see the 2026 edition of SIAL Shanghai, an event that, as usual, will have exclusive coverage from World Beef Report (WBR). The trade fair will take place from May 18-20 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC) and is considered Asia’s leading food and beverage event, with more than 5,000 exhibitors and around 180,000 professionals.

Middle Eastern markets remain open for Australian red meat, but the regional conflict has created major logistical challenges and higher freight, insurance and energy costs, rather than a structural collapse in demand.

The FAO Meat Price Index averaged 129.4 points in April, up 1.6 points (1.2%) from March and 7.8 points (6.4%) above the level recorded a year earlier. As a result, the index reached a new all-time high.

Compared to the last market test, import prices were mostly slightly lower. Trading for Australia/New Zealand product remained slow, while South American trade ranged from slow to moderate.

Fed cattle prices continued to move higher last week, with sales in Texas and Kansas ranging from US$/cwt 256 to 258. In the north, most live transactions were reported between US$/cwt 258 and 260, while dressed sales ranged from US$/cwt 400 to 405, according to The AG Center.

The US Department of Justice and USDA have intensified their antitrust investigation into the country’s largest beef packers, following last week’s joint announcement in Washington signaling tougher scrutiny of market concentration in the cattle and beef sectors.