Between January and April 2026, beef exports totaled 211,296 tons worth nearly US$ 1.4 billion, representing growth of 7.5% in volume and 44.5% in value compared to the first four months of last year.
The average price during the four-month period was US$ 6,632/t, 34.4% higher than in the same period of 2025.
In the first four months of 2026, with 3.936 million head, cattle slaughter contracted 9.5% compared to the same period in 2025, mainly due to reductions in steer slaughter (-20%), young steers (-10%), heifers (-9%) and cows (-7%). This means that the export market has gained ground over beef destined for domestic consumption, despite the weaker US dollar, which should make domestic demand more competitive.
