Demand. The international price reflects the good moment of the cattle meat trade.

International beef prices in recent months have been rising, getting closer and closer to the peaks of 2022 values, which until recently seemed unrepeatable. The average FOB price of the four Mercosur countries, plus the United States and Australia, countries that together account for 65% of global beef exports, is currently US$6,500 per ton (product weight). This value represents a 16% increase from a year ago, but still well below the US$7,460 reached in April 2022. The average FOB price of Brazilian shipments is currently US$5,700 per ton, 27% higher than in the same month last year, but also below the mid-2022 peak when it reached US$6,800 per ton. A representative product of Brazilian exports –especially to China– is the front quarter of steer in eight cuts, which fourteen months ago was priced at US$4,200 per ton and today is marketed –after some decline– at US$5,500 per ton. The average FOB price of Uruguay is currently US$7,400 per ton, 25% higher than a year ago, and just ...