China virtually disappeared from Brazil’s beef export mix in August. Shipments to the country plunged 88.2% from a year earlier to just 18,900 metric tons, dragging Brazil’s total beef exports down 22.2% to 233,500 tons — the lowest monthly volume so far in 2026.
Export revenue fell 15.2% to $1.36 billion, according to data compiled by the Brazilian Beef Exporters Association (ABIEC) from official trade figures. The collapse in Chinese purchases was not primarily a demand shock. It reflected the exhaustion of the quota established under China’s safeguard mechanism after Brazilian exporters sharply front-loaded shipments earlier in the year.
Brazilian exporters estimate that the quota was effectively filled in early July once cargo already shipped and still in transit is included. Chinese authorities, however, have indicated utilization of roughly 92%, because imports are counted only when shipments arrive.
The gap matters: transit between Brazil and China typically takes 40 to 45 days, meaning part of the beef already exported has yet to appear in Chinese customs data.
“This movement was already expected by the industry,” ABIEC President Roberto Perosa said. “There was significant front-loading of shipments to China in the first half, and once the quota was exhausted, flows naturally declined. The challenge now is to continue expanding Brazil’s presence in other markets.”
Other markets step in
The retreat of China reshuffled Brazil’s export map in August. The United States became the largest destination for Brazilian beef during the month, importing 35,300 tons, up 276% from a year earlier.
Shipments to the European Union more than doubled to 23,400 tons, while exports to Russia rose 54.5% to 22,000 tons and sales to Chile increased 44.4% to 17,400 tons.
Those markets generated export revenue of $226.5 million, $201.9 million, $116.8 million and $108.3 million, respectively.
The figures suggest that Brazil is beginning to redistribute part of the volume previously concentrated in China — an important test of how diversified its beef export base has become.
Year-to-date picture remains stronger
Despite the August drop, Brazil exported 2.202 million tons of beef between January and August, up 5.3% from the same period in 2025. Export revenue rose a much stronger 21.7% to $12.79 billion.
China remains Brazil’s largest market by a wide margin, with 899,200 tons shipped in the first eight months of the year and revenue of $5.51 billion.
Volumes to China were down 6.6% year on year, but the country still accounted for 40.8% of Brazil’s total beef exports in 2026. The United States ranked second, with 269,100 tons, up 28.7%, and revenue of $1.74 billion.
Chile imported 107,300 tons, up 32%; Russia bought 96,300 tons, up 29.7%; and the European Union received 87,100 tons, an increase of 26.4%.
Diversification accelerates
Smaller markets are also expanding rapidly. Exports to Indonesia reached 55,200 tons through August, up 259.6% from a year earlier, while shipments to Vietnam jumped 408.3% to 10,000 tons. Argentina imported 19,000 tons, up 140.1%.
Other fast-growing destinations included Canada, where shipments rose 191.1% to 10,800 tons; Peru, up 84.2% to 7,000 tons; Jordan, up 51.6% to 15,100 tons; Saudi Arabia, up 24.9% to 50,000 tons; and Turkey, up 12.9% to 14,700 tons.
“The figures show that Brazilian beef is expanding its presence across a broader range of markets,” Perosa said. “China remains fundamental, but growth in other destinations helps reduce concentration and creates new opportunities for the industry.”
ABIEC’s figures include fresh, processed and salted beef, as well as offal, fats and casings. Fresh beef accounted for 195,700 tons in August, or 84% of total exports. Offal represented 18,600 tons, processed products 9,600 tons, fats 6,400 tons, casings 2,500 tons and salted beef 647 tons.
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