In 2026, beef, one of Brazil's leading export products, faced two major trade shocks. In China, the main destination for Brazilian beef, the 1.106 million-tonne quota subject to the standard tariff was reached on September 29, meaning that volumes exceeding the quota became subject to an additional 55% tariff as of October 1. In the European Union, Brazil's removal from the list of countries authorized to export animal-origin products led to the suspension of sales as of September 3. Furthermore, the requirement for individual livestock traceability is expected to take approximately two years to meet.

In the opposite direction, other destinations offset part of these losses. Exports to the United States grew by 82.9%, while shipments to Chile and Russia increased by 55.0% and 52.5%, respectively. Meanwhile, sales to China fell by 8.5%, although the country remained Brazil's leading destination, accounting for 42.5% of total export value. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Vietnam collectively increased their purchases by approximately US$303 million, compared with a US$512 million decline in sales to China.

These and other figures are featured in the Trade Spotlight: Beef report, released by the Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI). The publication analyzes the impact of China's safeguard measure and the European suspension, the behavior of the world's leading importers, and government and industry initiatives to open up new markets.