Imports of Brazilian beef hit record high in May

Although volumes remain relatively small, Argentina’s imports of Brazilian beef reached a record high in May, totaling just over 3,000 tons, including around 615 tons of chilled beef and 2,395 tons of frozen beef, according to INDEC data.

So far this year, Brazil has shipped 10,183 tons of beef to Argentina, worth nearly US$ 47 million. In volume terms, this is twice the 5,051 tons shipped during the first five months of last year, when deliveries began to gain some regularity.

Imports so far in 2026 consisted of 1,733 tons of chilled beef, worth US$ 11.8 million, and 8,450 tons of frozen beef, worth US$ 35.2 million, with chilled beef accounting for 17% of the total. In all of 2025, beef imports from Brazil totaled 14,064 tons, with chilled beef representing almost 7%.

Brazil is expected to increase shipments to Argentina following the exhaustion of China’s quota. According to industry sources, most frozen products are bought by Brazilian companies to be used as raw material in sausage and hamburger production. As for chilled cuts, Brazil is shipping Tenderloin, Flat, Topside with cap, Knuckle, Chuck, and Shoulder clod to Argentina.