The return of Chinese importers after the Golden Week holidays and the Anuga trade fair did not change the tone of the market. “They’re still pushing prices down,” a Brazilian exporter told World Beef Report (WBR), citing a “very low” quote of US$ 5,500 CFR for the forequarter (eight-cut set).

Following the fair, new Hilton rump & loin deals closed slightly below early last week levels. Argentine sources reported US$ 18,500–19,000 FOB, with difficulty reaching the upper range even for top brands. Uruguayan prices were around US$ 17,800 FOB, about US$ 200 lower than a week earlier, with lesser-known brands trading at US$ 17,500.

The U.S. imported beef market remains quiet. “It’s been the same story for weeks—little movement,” a trader said. Another broker mentioned US$ 5,700 FOB for 90CL beef from Uruguay outside quota, while Argentina reported US$ 8,500–8,600 FOB for topside with quota. Domestic beef prices have stabilized, ending the recent decline in lean trim.

The Chilean market remains quiet. “It’s calm; the new pricing reality from Paraguay hasn’t yet been accepted,” a trader told WBR. Paraguayan asking prices for the 19 standard cuts remain firm, between US$ 7,200 and US$ 7,500 CIF, though with smaller traded volumes. “If we used to sell 10 containers, now we’re selling 4,” an exporter said last week at Anuga.

With President Donald Trump’s newly brokered peace deal in the Middle East, sentiment toward the upcoming kosher slaughter season in South America has improved, and several agents expect better prices for forequarter cuts.

In the past week, a Uruguayan plant received bids from Russia for offal, including liver at US$ 1,900/t and heart at US$ 2,300/t FOB.

In a surprising move given China’s usually lengthy process for approving beef import protocols, a new agreement has just been finalized with Bolivia, one of its newest Latin American suppliers, including items long sought by other exporters.

The exchange rate in Argentina continues to be a source of volatility in domestic cattle prices. However, this week it was also the reason why the WBR Mercosur Steer Index fell by only 1 cent, to US$ 4.05 per kilo carcass weight.

In the first eight working days of October, Brazil maintained a strong pace of beef exports, although the average export value fell to its lowest level since the second half of July.

After the contraction seen in August, cattle slaughter at export-oriented plants (those under Federal Inspection Service oversight) recovered in September.

Cattle slaughter in Mato Grosso, Brazil’s largest cattle-producing state, followed a seasonal decline in September but remained above last year’s levels for the same period.

Live cattle exports from Brazil totaled 137,170 head in September, marking the second-highest monthly figure ever recorded, just a few hundred head short of the record set in December 2024.

The Brazilian state of Pará has joined the international kosher beef export route with the start of operations by RAMAX Group in Paragominas. The company took over the former Fortefrigo plant and began kosher-certified slaughtering, opening new opportunities for local producers and strengthening the state’s role in the export-oriented agribusiness sector.

The downward trend in slaughter cattle prices that prevailed through the end of September has reversed, and the market now shows a firmer tone with slight price improvements across most major cattle-producing regions compared with the previous week. The average price for the finished male (boi gordo) rose R$ 2.8 to R$/@ 293.3, according to state data from consultancy Scot, net of the Funrural tax and with 30 days for payment.

Cattle slaughtered with identification confirming they were finished in feedlots increased by around 60,000 head this year through early October, according to data presented to the INAC Board.

The additional certification requirements imposed by the European Union (EU) for organic beef have placed heavy pressure on costs, making it “very difficult to continue operating” in that market, said Marcelo Secco, CEO of MBRF Uruguay.

Meatpacking plants have taken a firmer stance this week, offering lower prices for finished cattle, which has led to a heavier market and a growing gap between supply and demand.

After three consecutive weeks below 40,000 head, Uruguay’s cattle slaughter exceeded that threshold in the week ending October 11, according to INAC. A total of 41,067 head were processed — an increase of 6,518 head (19%) compared to the previous week and 5% above the same week last year.

Sheep prices continued rising through the end of last week, with levels higher than the previous one and lamb prices exceeding those of fat steers—a relationship not seen in a long time.

Although announcements of a trade deal between the United States and Argentina were expected yesterday following the meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Javier Milei in Washington, those talks apparently did not take place, according to sources close to the meeting.

Chile’s agricultural health service (SAG) has reinstated recognition of Argentina’s Patagonia region as “free from foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination,” a status that had been suspended in August.

Prices for top-quality export steers rose by another Ar$ 50 per kilogram carcass weight, while most other slaughter cattle either held steady or fell by around Ar$ 100 per kilogram. The best British-breed cross steers, known for superior meat quality, moved into the Ar$ 6,100–6,250/kg range, while zebu-cross steers dropped to Ar$ 5,900–6,000/kg.

The average export value of Paraguayan beef reached a record high in September, surpassing for the first time in history US$6,000 per ton shipment weight.

The beef processing industry maintained downward pressure on cattle prices for the second consecutive week. Young males for slaughter fell by 15 cents, with the current reference price now at US$ 4.40 per kg carcass weight, while cows stand at US$ 4.00 per kg.

Between July and September, Brazil strengthened its position as the leading supplier of imported beef to the Chilean market, surpassing Paraguay, which had dominated sales to the main South American importing country in recent years.

Tyson Foods and Cargill have agreed to pay a combined US$ 87.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by consumers who accused them of conspiring to inflate beef prices in the United States by restricting supply.

Beyond Meat’s share price fell below US$ 1 yesterday for the first time in its history, after having reached a peak of US$ 230 per share six years ago, when the idea that plant-based protein foods would take a significant share of the animal protein market was widely embraced.

US consumer sentiment was steady in October, with households appearing to shrug off a partial shutdown of the government, though worries about the labor market and inflation lingered.

Costco Wholesale recorded higher sales in September and the first few days of October, with gains spread evenly across all regions. The warehouse retailer said Wednesday that sales rose 8% to $26.58 billion in the five-week period that ended Oct. 5, Reuters said.

US beef packers are struggling to establish, much less maintain, operating margins, said The AG Center, and added that “this will assure lower slaughter volumes and smaller cash purchases”. Should weekly slaughter volumes remain in the 540,000–550,000 head range, boxed beef should improve heading into the holiday period. Show lists will remain tight, especially in the South, with steadily declining feedyard occupancy.

Compared to the prior market test, US beef import prices were moderately to sharply higher.

The suspension of imports of Argentine and Uruguayan beef under the Hilton quota has been lifted, and after a couple of days of concern, trade under this quota has returned to normal.

The proposal by the European Commission to postpone the entry into force of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by another year—until December 31, 2026—is facing growing resistance within the European Parliament, according to FoodNavigator.com. At least eight Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from left-wing, green, and socialist parties have expressed their opposition to reopening the regulation to allow a further delay.

In September, there was a slight decrease in the number of African swine fever (ASF) infections among farmed or privately raised pigs in Europe. A total of 131 farms or pig holdings were infected, compared with 151 in July and 149 in August. The number of ASF cases in wild boars also continued to fall significantly, with 392 infected animals detected in September, down from 655 in July and 530 in August.

Animal welfare protection is considered “essential” by more than eight in ten Europeans, according to a Eurobarometer survey published last Thursday. Eighty-four percent of respondents believe that the welfare of farm animals should be better protected in their country, and a similar share (83%) supports limiting the transport time of live animals.

The national flock in Australia is estimated at 74.2 million head as of June 2025. Consecutive below-average seasonal conditions across SA, Victoria and southern NSW have elevated lamb slaughter and a sharp mutton turn-off increase. With conditions expected to improve, ewe retention is anticipated to rise through 2026, laying groundwork for a considered rebuild.

After hitting a low of around US$ 8 per kilo in mid-March, wholesale beef prices in China have shown a gradual but steady upward trend.