EN 
PT_BR Brazilian beef exports registered significant growth in March of this year, with shipments totaling 248 thousand tons, an increase of 13.1% compared to February and 30.2% compared to March of last year. The data are from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex/MDIC), compiled by the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (ABIEC).
In terms of profit, the performance was also positive, with foreign sales totaling US$1.17 billion in the month, an increase of 12.8% compared to February and 39.6% compared to March 2024. The sector played a prominent role among those that evolved most towards the surplus in trade fluctuation in the period.
Fresh meat grew as the main exported category, accounting for 86.8% of volume and 89.7% of revenue in the month. Also noteworthy were the increases in exports of tripe (+37.3% in volume and +36.3% in value) and salted products (+35.7% in volume and +34.6% in value), compared to February. The processed and offal categories also grew above 9% in exported volume.
Main destinations
China maintained its leadership as the main destination for Brazilian beef, with 97.3 thousand tons shipped – corresponding to 39.2% of the total volume – and US$$ 463.8 million in transactions (39.4%). The United States gained relevance, with a significant increase of 56.3% in volume (42.1 thousand tons) and 53% in value (US$$ 225.5 million) compared to the previous month. Other markets with significant growth in volume in March were Russia, with an increase of 81.5% in exported tons (from 4,494 to 8,155 t), Israel (+48.6%, from 3,334 to 4,954 t), the Philippines (+38.2%, from 4,076 to 5,631 t) and Mexico (+30.7%, from 4,421 to 5,777 t). t).
Quarterly evolution
From January to March this year, exports totaled 676 thousand tons (+12.8%) and generated US$$ 3.22 billion in revenue (+22.1%).
The top ten markets in the quarter were China (284.6 thousand tonnes; 42.1% of total exports), United States (88 thousand tonnes; 13.0%), Chile (30.5 thousand tonnes; 4.5%), Hong Kong (24.1 thousand tonnes; 3.6%), European Union (22.4 thousand tonnes; 3.3%), Algeria (21.3 thousand tonnes; 3.1%), Russia (19.5 thousand tonnes; 2.9%), Egypt (18.3 thousand tonnes; 2.7%), Saudi Arabia (14.6 thousand tonnes; 2.2%) and Mexico (13.3 thousand tonnes; 2.0%).
The states that exported the most beef in the quarter were São Paulo, with 145 thousand tons, responsible for 21.7% of the total exported by the country, followed by Mato Grosso (137 thousand tons and 20.5% of the total), Goiás (80.8 thousand tons and 12% of the total), Mato Grosso do Sul (74.3 thousand tons and 11.1%) and Rondônia (61.9 thousand tons and 98.3%).
“The results recorded in March and in the quarter reflect not only the competitiveness and quality of Brazilian beef in the international market, but also the efficiency of the entire production chain, from the field to the export industry, in all Brazilian regions,” said Roberto Perosa, president of ABIEC.
