In February, China blocked the entry of around 350 tons of beef from eight suppliers, according to information from Chinese Customs released by OIG+X.

Gastón Scayola

Gastón Scayola, president of the Uruguayan Meat Board INAC, highlighted the reopening of the Florida plant but warned about the structural challenge of increasing cattle production to sustain industrial activity in Uruguay.

The Brazilian government will not move forward in 2026 with a control scheme over the beef export quota to China, a decision that exposes the sharp differences between producers and industry, according to Pecuaria. The issue was not included in the last Gecex meeting and, for now, is not on the agenda.

JBS is beginning to face a more challenging scenario, with rising cattle costs in Brazil and a weakened beef business in the US. Herd rebuilding —with retention of females— is already pushing prices in Brazil, marking a cycle change after several years of lower costs for the industry.

JBS projects Capex (investment) of US$ 2.4 billion for 2026, with about US$ 1.4 billion earmarked for expansion and US$ 1 billion for maintenance, according to its global CFO, Guilherme Cavalcanti. The company prioritizes organic growth and, for now, has no planned announcements regarding mergers and acquisitions.

The Paraguayan Meat Chamber (CPC) stated that idle industrial capacity in packers does not respond to anti-competitive practices, but, on the contrary, reinforces competition for cattle. According to the association, this is a characteristic of a capital-intensive industry.

The Paraguayan Association of Meat Producers and Exporters (APPEC) set out a clear position in the debate over a possible change in foot-and-mouth disease sanitary status and defended the continuity of the current vaccination-based system, considering that there are no technical, sanitary, or economic grounds that justify a modification in the short term.

A federal appeals court enabled Florida to keep in force the law that prohibits the production and commercialization of cultivated meat, considering that it does not conflict with federal regulation. The decision supports the validity of SB 1084, in force since July 2024.

The Free Trade Agreement signed between Australia and the European Union has triggered a strong negative reaction from Australia’s red meat sector, which considers it insufficient in terms of market access, according to Beef Central.

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.5 million head on March 1, 2026, informed the USDA in tis Cattle on Feed report. The inventory was slightly below March 1, 2025.

The meat industry continues to push for lower purchase prices for finished cattle at the start of the week. However, recent rainfall and limited supply in some regions are allowing higher prices to be secured to fill slaughter schedules.

Export steer prices continued to trend downward, driven by exporters’ resistance to higher bids, the end of kosher slaughter activity, and softer European demand. By last Friday (the last business day before publication), British-breed cross steers—of higher meat quality—had fallen another Ar$ 100–200 to a range of Ar$ 8,000–8,200/kg carcass weight, while zebu-cross steers declined to Ar$ 7,900–8,000/kg.

Exports of chilled beef to Europe reached 3,860 tons in February, nearly 5% higher than the previous month but 16% below February 2025. The average value eased to US$ 13,521/t from the January peak of US$ 14,200/t —the highest level in at least eight years— bringing total export value to US$ 52 million.

Despite regaining second place among Argentina’s export destinations, shipments to Israel declined both month-on-month and year-on-year in February. Exports totaled 1,583 tons of chilled beef and 1,996 tons of frozen beef, representing respective declines of 41% and 19% from January 2026, and 18% and 7% from February 2025.

Beef exports to China, Argentina’s main destination, posted a modest recovery in February compared to the previous month. Shipments totaled 19,939 tons of frozen boneless beef (US$ 111 million), up 14% month-on-month, but still far below the volumes seen between 2022 and 2024 —when monthly averages ranged between 30,000 and 33,000 tons— and even those recorded from June to November 2025.

Conditions in the finished cattle market remain largely unchanged from the previous week. Despite extremely limited supply —further tightened by recent favorable rainfall— demand is positioned below the market and is exerting strong downward pressure on purchase prices.

Uruguay’s economy grew by 1.8% in 2025, according to the Central Bank’s National Accounts report, although it ended the year virtually stagnant: GDP rose just 0.1% year-on-year in the fourth quarter.

Despite being in the second half of the month —a period typically marked by softer domestic beef demand— cattle prices in Brazil moved higher, supported by limited supply. Favorable pasture conditions continue to give producers greater control over marketings.

Brazil’s beef export pace has eased in recent weeks. From a peak of over 18,000 tons per working day in the third week of February, shipments declined to 10,277 tons in the third week of March, according to data from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex).

Finished cattle prices fell for the second consecutive week in all four Mercosur countries. The WBR Mercosur Steer Index dropped 6 cents over the week to US$ 4.72/kg carcass weight. Since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, the index has declined by 13 cents, or 2.7%.