Strong exports drive up the price of beef per arroba at the end of May.

Prices for live cattle per arroba (a Brazilian unit of weight) rose again in the last days of May, driven by strong Brazilian beef exports and lower availability of animals ready for slaughter. This assessment comes from researchers at [Institution Name - missing from original text]. Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics.

After starting the month above R$ 350, the Cepea/Esalq Fat Cattle Indicator lost strength during the first weeks of May and retreated to the R$ 340 range. On the 14th and 15th, the reference reached R$ 344.60. However, between May 19 and 26, the indicator accumulated a rise of 0.87%, closing on Tuesday (26) quoted at R$ 347.80 per arroba.

Despite the recent recovery, the indicator still shows a depreciation of 1.88% in the accumulated month, considering the period between April 30 and May 26.

In the international market, Brazilian shipments continue at a rapid pace. Data from Foreign Trade Secretariat They indicate that exports of fresh beef have already exceeded 200,000 tons in the first part of May, with a daily average of 13,565 tons.

The daily volume shipped is above that recorded in May 2025, when the average was 10,381 thousand tons. If the current pace is maintained until the end of the month, Brazil could exceed 270 thousand tons exported, setting a new record for May.