Brazil's beef exports to China fell sharply in August as China's import quota neared its limit, according to the Cepea research centre, and Brazil's total beef exports fell with them.

Shipments to China were 16,136 tonnes in August, down 80.5% from 82,714 tonnes in July and 89.8% from 158,056 tonnes in August 2025, Secex trade data show. China's share of Brazil's beef exports fell from 32.1% in July to 7.1%. According to the latest Chinese update, Brazil had filled 90% of its quota by early August.

From January to August China took 872,117 tonnes of Brazilian beef, 8% less than the 948,323 tonnes of the same period in 2025.

Brazil's total beef exports were 226,777 tonnes in August, down 12.1% from July and 23.2% from August 2025. Cepea said the drop in Chinese buying could weigh on Brazilian beef prices if the restrictions persist, while larger shipments to other destinations show Brazil can redirect part of its supply.

Early September data, covering four working days, show fresh beef exports of 40,582 tonnes, a daily average of 10,145 tonnes, at an average price of $6,137.60 a tonne. The report is by Melanie Epp.

Photo: Eduardo Ferraz Pacheco de Castro e Sebastião de Oliveira / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Source: The Cattle Site