Brazil Cattle Processing Hits Record as China Devours more Beef

Brazil’s cattle slaughter surged in the fourth quarter, with beef packers boosting processing by 13.1% from the same period in 2024, according to preliminary data from the Brazilian census bureau released, Ana Mano reported for Reuters.

China accounted for roughly half of Brazil’s beef exports by both value and volume but as introduced maximum annual import quotas for suppliers over a three-year period.

If confirmed, total slaughter would reach a record 42.3 million head in 2025, as strong Chinese demand accelerated processing and pushed Brazil ahead of the United States as the world’s largest beef producer.

Government trade data show Chinese demand remained robust in January, with $650 million worth of beef shipments to China last month — nearly 45% more than a year earlier.

Overall, Brazil exported about 232,000 metric tons of fresh beef in 2025, generating nearly $1.3 billion in revenue.

China accounted for roughly half of Brazil’s beef exports by both value and volume.

However, Beijing has introduced maximum annual import quotas for suppliers over a three-year period. Shipments exceeding certain thresholds face a 55% tariff under what China calls “safeguard measures,” unsettling Brazilian processors.

In response, Brazil’s government is discussing with industry leaders a plan to allocate company-specific quotas, proportionate to their export volumes to China last year, in an effort to regulate supply.