The European Union will continue to need meat from South America in 2026
The European Union will import more than 400,000 tons of beef again in 2026, given a further reduction in its domestic production that would fall to 6.42 million tons next year, the lowest volume in at least 25 years.
In 2025, European Union countries will increase their beef purchases by 8.7% compared to 2024, reaching approximately 425,000 tons, the highest volume since 2019. The USDA estimates imports of 405,000 tons for next year.
Prices for fat cattle in the EU at the end of November were 30% higher than a year ago, reaching US$8.30 per kilo of carcass weight, while live calves rose by up to 50% in the last 12 months to US$5.10 per kilo. Beef slaughter fell by 3.6% through September, the latest month reported by the Eurostat statistics agency.
Exports outside the bloc fell 16% and imports rose 13.5% in volume through August, according to Eurostat.
European imports from Argentina and Brazil also increased at a double-digit rate.
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