Sharp increase in beef exports to China in June

The main international suppliers to the Chinese market significantly increased their shipments to this destination in June, suggesting that an uptick in arrivals—mainly from South America—can be expected in August.

Shipments from Brazil and Uruguay totaled 150,000 tons in June, 25,000 tons more than the previous month. If exports from Argentina remained stable at around 40,000 tons, Mercosur countries would have shipped approximately 190,000 tons to China last month—the largest volume since last November.

Exports from Australia also rose by about 4,000 tons, reaching 27,000 tons—the highest monthly total since December 2019, more than five years ago.

In contrast, amid an ongoing tariff war, U.S. exports to China plummeted to just 1,398 tons in May, and there is no indication that volumes increased in June.

All in all, considering shipments from other sources, total beef exports to China in June are estimated at around 240,000 tons—the highest figure since last November. These shipments are expected to arrive in July and, in the case of those from Mercosur, mainly in August.