Overview
- Per-capita beef intake fell to 47.3 kilos a year, down 3.7% from March 2025, marking the lowest level in two decades, according to industry group CICCRA.
- Domestic output in the first quarter reached 700,190 tonnes on a carcass-weight basis, a drop of 5.1% as fewer cattle went to slaughter.
- Beef exports grew about 11.4% to roughly 187,400 tonnes in the quarter, which left the local market with about 512,800 tonnes, a 10% decline in apparent domestic supply.
- Retail beef prices jumped 10.6% in March, and over 12 months meats rose about 54% while average beef cuts climbed roughly 64%, outpacing incomes and pushing shoppers toward cheaper proteins.
- Sector data trace the squeeze to a herd loss of about 3.3 million head since 2022 and producers holding animals longer to add weight, which kept cattle off the market and tightened supply.