With US exit, Brazilian beef exports to Mexico grow

Brazilian beef exports to Mexico had already been growing at a strong pace in recent months, and they are set to increase further with the likely approval of new exporting plants and the impossibility of shipping to the United States, where a tariff of more than 76% makes operations to that market virtually unfeasible.

In the first seven months of 2025, Mexico became the third-largest destination for Brazilian frozen beef, with more than 54,000 tons, and according to preliminary data from Abiec, in the first 25 days of August it surpassed shipments to the United States, ranking second only to China.

In September, the Mexican government will audit 14 slaughterhouses for export approval, reported Luís Rua, secretary of Trade at the Ministry of Agriculture, to Pecuaria.

The plants to be audited are owned by Marfrig, BRF, and JBS, and the expectation is that they will be approved “shortly.” With these plants, the number authorized to export to Mexico would rise from 35 to 49.

Although it would not be possible to re-export these volumes to the US market, the greater inflow of Brazilian beef into Mexico will free up more Mexican beef for export, which can be directed to the US market, where strong import demand continues due to the drop in domestic production.