Brazil becomes top beef producer as record slaughtering meets Chinese demand
Brazil surpassed the United States as the top beef producer in 2025 following record slaughtering. New Chinese import quotas now challenge local exporters.
Insights:
Preliminary data released by the Brazilian census bureau on February 12, 2026, indicates that cattle slaughtering in Brazil 
BR rose by 13.1% year-on-year during the fourth quarter. This surge has led to a preliminary projection of a record 42.3 million head for the full year of 2025. If these figures are confirmed, the tally would mark a national record and position the country ahead of the United States 
US as the world’s largest beef producer.
BR rose by 13.1% year-on-year during the fourth quarter. This surge has led to a preliminary projection of a record 42.3 million head for the full year of 2025. If these figures are confirmed, the tally would mark a national record and position the country ahead of the United States US as the world’s largest beef producer.
