The beef cattle market in Brazil faces slow negotiations and falling wholesale prices

The Brazilian beef cattle market is going through a week marked by slow negotiations and stable prices per arroba in most of the main trading areas. According to Allan Maia, an analyst at Safras & Mercado, meatpacking plants have been operating with extended slaughter schedules, which reduces the urgency for new purchases and contributes to the cadence in the pace of business. With the end-of-year festivities approaching, the market is facing a loss of liquidity, which could accentuate the downward trend in prices per arroba, depending on wholesale demand. The prices per arroba of beef cattle in the forward mode, recorded on December 19, were stable in most regions: In the wholesale market, beef prices declined, reflecting the lower competitiveness against lower-cost proteins, such as chicken and pork. According to Maia, this factor directly influenced the reduction in prices. Brazilian exports of fresh, frozen or chilled beef generated US$ 438.372 million in the first 10 business ...