Overview
- Private surveys show food prices rose roughly 0.9%–1.3% in the second week of February, with meats up 2.3%–3% and beef cuts climbing as much as 4.6% in one week.
- Average retail beef prices were up about 70%–73% year over year in January, according to IPCVA, outpacing overall inflation.
- CICCRA reports January slaughter fell 11.8% year over year and beef output dropped 10% as a smaller herd after droughts and floods curbed supply.
- Apparent per‑capita consumption declined 13% year over year in January to 47.9 kg, the lowest in roughly two decades, with households shifting more toward poultry and pork.
- Exports held near 57,000 tonnes in January, and sector voices say new U.S. access is encouraging retention that tightens domestic supply, with analysts warning production will stay constrained into 2026–2027.