Brazil's frozen and chilled beef exports increased by 8.7pc in March from a year earlier, despite logistical hurdles due to the US and Israel's war on Iran and its collateral impacts on the Middle East.
Brazil's total beef exports reached nearly 234,000 metric tonnes (t) in the month, up from 215,249t a year earlier, trade ministry Mdic data show. Revenue from beef exports totaled $1.36bn in March, a 29pc hike from a year prior.
Some vessels handling Brazilian beef cargoes to the Middle East were stalled without any alternate routes on track yet, market participants said. There were also cargoes waiting to be berthed in the region and chilled beef shipments are more sensitive to shipping delays, the Brazilian association of beef exporters Abiec said.
Middle Eastern countries accounted for 11.2pc of Brazil's beef exports in January-March, up from 10.5pc a year earlier, according to Mdic data. The region is the final destination of 10-15pc of Brazilian beef shipments, Abiec said.
China remained the largest importer of Brazilian beef in March, accounting for around 44pc of its exports during the month, Mdic data show. China received over 101,990t of Brazilian beef in the month, up by 6.4pc from March 2025, again followed by the US, Chile and Russia.
Brazil has already filled nearly 30pc of China's tariff-free quota set earlier this year. Brazilian beef exports to China now face a 12pc flat tariff, which would be added to a 55pc tariff once the shipments exceed a 1.1mn t/yr quota.
US reduced its imports of Brazilian beef to 35,092t in March, a 5pc decrease from a year prior. The US still represented 15pc of Brazilian beef exports in the month, down from 17pc a year prior.
Exports to Chile rose by 37pc to around 15,000t in March from a year earlier, remaining the top destination in South America with a 6.4pc export share. Brazilian shipments to Russia represented 3.5pc of export share with 8,222t, a 42pc hike from a year prior.
Imports hit one-year low
Brazil imported around 2,370t of beef in March, down by almost 19pc from a year earlier, Mdic data show. Import volumes have been decreasing since April 2025.
Most shipments came from Paraguay, which accounted for 56pc of imports of the product, down from 60pc a year earlier. Argentina was the only supplier that increased its beef exports to Brazil in March, accounting for 23pc of the total, up from 16pc a year prior.
Australia, Brazil's main competitor for beef in Asian markets, accounted for 5.8pc of its imports in March after a 15pc decrease in shipments from a year prior. Australia has been decreasing beef shipments to Brazil since October, Mdic data show.
