Browse Data and Analysis

Argentine beef exports in 2025 are projected at a record 860,000 tons, carcass weight equivalent (cwe) as beef production is forecast to increase marginally.

Brazil is the third-largest cattle producer and second-largest beef exporter in the world. Post forecasts decreased slaughter in 2025, due to the forecasted start of the reversion of the cattle cycle. Producers are likely to start retaining cattle in 2025, driving calf prices upwards.

Argentine beef exports in 2024 are projected up at 920,000 tons carcass weight equivalent, 20,000 tons higher than USDA official.

Brazil is currently at the bottom of the cattle cycle, liquidating inventories since 2023. The oversupply of cattle for slaughter has led to a slow price recovery and longer-term impact to the replacement market.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and Food Supply of Brazil (MAPA) announced the opening of the Dominican Republic market for pork and beef products on August 9, 2023.

Beef production in 2024 is projected at 3.12 million tons carcass weight equivalent (CWE), down marginally from 2023, a year with high slaughter levels because of a severe drought.

The Brazilian economy is slowly recovering from the negative impacts of the COVID pandemic on its GDP growth, employment rates, and in most sectors of the economy.

After three years of dry weather conditions which have challenged the Argentine beef cattle industry, Post estimates that Argentine cattle slaughter and beef production will both drop in 2023, in line with official USDA estimates.

In 2023, Post forecasts that cattle production will grow 1.3 percent, to 48.5 million cattle head, as the Brazilian cattle sector reaches its peak in the production cycle.

Post forecasts an increase in cattle production by 2.8 percent in 2022 and one percent in 2023, driven by global demand, elevated beef prices, and a general trend of expansion in the sector. Nevertheless, increasing production costs, especially feed prices, inflation, and unstable weather are expected to pose challenges to cattle ranchers.

Argentine cattle stock, cattle slaughter, beef production, consumption and export volumes are all forecast to remain practically unchanged in 2023. China is expected to continue as the main export destination, potentially accounting for more than 70 percent of the 770,000 tons carcass weight equivalent (CWE) projected exports. Despite strong global beef demand and good prices, current, government imposed, export restrictions are projected to prevent Argentina from shipping larger volumes.