By Brazil Stock Guide – Brazil’s beef exports to China climbed 38% in September from a year earlier, reaching 187,340 metric tons, according to the Brazilian Meat Packers Association (Abrafrigo). The increase pushed overall monthly shipments to a record high, reinforcing China’s role as the main destination for the protein.
Reuters, citing government data compiled by Abrafrigo, reported that Brazil’s export surge came as global trade flows realign amid the tariff conflict between China and the United States. The Asian nation has been securing more supplies from Brazil, while avoiding US agricultural products.
Total beef exports — including fresh and processed cuts, edible offal and tallow — reached 373,867 tons in September, generating $1.92 billion in revenue. That represents a 17% increase in volume and a 49% jump in value compared with September 2024.
“This strong performance occurred in the second month of additional US tariffs on Brazilian products, showing the sector’s ability to overcome adversity and seize new commercial opportunities,” Abrafrigo said in a note.
Sales to the US, still Brazil’s second-largest beef market year-to-date, fell 41% in September to $102.9 million. By contrast, the European Union emerged as the second-largest buyer during the month, with imports led by Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.
EU purchases reached 15,322 tons, generating $131.7 million in revenue — more than double the previous year. According to Abrafrigo, European buyers also pay a premium, with the average price hitting $8,739 per ton of fresh beef in September. Cumulative EU imports reached $676 million from January to September, up 63.5% year-on-year.
Abrafrigo said 130 countries increased their Brazilian beef purchases in the first nine months of 2025, while 48 cut back. The diversification underscores Brazil’s expanding role as the world’s top beef exporter.