Mato Grosso opens 2026 with record beef exports.

Mato Grosso started 2026 by expanding its leadership in beef exports. In January, the state shipped 83,060 tons in carcass equivalent (TEC), the highest volume ever recorded for the month in the historical series of the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex). The increase was 53,18% compared to January 2025.

Revenue kept pace with volume. Shipments totaled US$356.45 million, a growth of 68.02% compared to the previous year. The result combines a significant increase in physical exports and an appreciation in the average price, which rose 9.69%, reaching US$4,291.52 per ton carcass equivalent.

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This performance consolidates an expansion trend already observed throughout 2025, when Mato Grosso exported 978,400 tons, the highest annual volume in the state's history, with revenue exceeding US$4 billion and a presence in more than 90 markets.

According to Bruno de Jesus Andrade, Projects Director at the Mato Grosso Institute of Meat (Imac), the result reflects structural advances in the production chain. “This new record shows that Mato Grosso has been doing its homework, with consistent gains in productivity, quality, and competitiveness. It is a milestone that reinforces the state's position as one of the main global suppliers of beef,” he states.

China remained the main destination for Mato Grosso's protein, accounting for 57.51% of total exports in January. The volume shipped to the Asian country grew by 89.21% compared to the same month in 2025, indicating strong demand at the beginning of the year. "External demand remains strong, especially in Asian markets, and Mato Grosso has strategic conditions to further expand its participation in international trade, with regular supply, production scale, and important advances in sustainability," highlights Andrade.

The beginning of 2026 reinforces the growing dependence of Mato Grosso's livestock industry on the external market, especially the Asian market, while also highlighting the state's increased competitiveness in the global protein market.