Brazil’s meat export sector is off to a strong start in 2025, with foreign demand driving significant gains — particularly for pork and beef — according to data from Brazil’s Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex) and CEPEA.
📈 Pork Exports Reach Historic Highs
Brazilian pork exports are experiencing a banner year, with both volume and revenue hitting record levels for the January–June period, based on Secex data tracking since 1997.
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Export Volume: 713.4 thousand tons were shipped in the first half of 2025 — a 17.5% increase over the same period in 2024.
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June Performance: 135.5 thousand tons were exported, the second-highest monthly total on record (trailing only July 2024’s 137 thousand tons).
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Export Revenue: BRL 9.82 billion in the first six months of 2025 — a 49% increase compared to 2024. June alone brought in BRL 1.88 billion, 14.8% higher than May and up 49.4% year-over-year.
These record-breaking pork figures underscore Brazil’s growing strength as a global pork supplier — a trend closely watched by North American pork producers and trade analysts alike.
🥩 Beef: Strong Export Growth, Softer Domestic Market
Brazil’s beef exports are also performing well:
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January–June Revenue: USD 7.2 billion, up 27% year-over-year.
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Export Volume: Increased by 12.5%, with a 12.7% rise in average export price.
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June Export Jump: Revenue rose 50% vs. June 2024, driven by a 23% volume increase and 22% price gain.
Despite export strength, domestic wholesale prices softened:
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Beef Carcass Price (Greater São Paulo): Fell 4.85% from June 30 to July 15, averaging BRL 20.97/kg.
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Fed Cattle Index: Dropped 5.29% to BRL 300.60 during the same period.
🍗 Poultry Prices Slide Amid Domestic Oversupply
Brazil’s poultry sector faced downward pricing pressure in early July, as supply continued to outpace demand:
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Contributing Factors:
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Temporary trade restrictions following a May bird flu case in Rio Grande do Sul.
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Lagging domestic demand due to school holidays.
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Continued high production volumes.
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While some key trade partners have resumed imports, domestic market rebalancing is still underway.
Takeaway for the Global Pork Industry
The remarkable growth in Brazilian pork exports — both in volume and value — signals heightened competition on the international stage. North American producers and exporters will want to monitor this momentum as Brazil cements its status as a leading player in the global protein market.
Source: CEPEA – https://www.cepea.org.br/
