Brazil’s beef shipments to the United States fell by 41% while exports to China increased by 38%.
Published October 8, 2025
Brazil’s beef exports to China are increasing as part of the Asian nation’s larger strategy to avoid agricultural products from the United States as trade tensions continue.
Brazil’s beef exports to China in September rose 38.3% from a year earlier to 187,340 tons, marking a record high for monthly exports, industry group Abrafrigo said on Wednesday.
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Abrafrigo said global demand for beef is helping offset the impact of U.S. tariffs on Brazilian exports. In August, the administration of US President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on some Brazilian products, including beef, which was already subject to a 26.4% tariff.
Latin America’s largest economy has expanded exports to both new and traditional markets amid the global trade restructuring triggered by US tariffs, and a similar trend was seen in soybean exports, which also reached record volumes.
Total beef exports, including raw and processed meat, edible offal and tallow, generated revenue of $1.92 billion in September, with volume reaching 373,867 tons, an increase of 49% in value and 17% in volume compared to the same period last year.
“This strong performance, achieved two months after the US imposed additional tariffs on Brazilian products, demonstrates the industry’s resilience and ability to seize new opportunities,” Abrafrigo said.
Exports to the United States, Brazil’s second-largest beef market, fell 41% from the start of the year to $102.9 million in September.
The European Union was the second most visited destination last month, after Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. Total EU purchases amounted to $131.7 million, an increase of 106% year-on-year.
Abrafrigo said 130 countries increased their purchases of Brazilian beef this year, while 48 countries cut back.
