Beef prices reach record highs in US and Alentejo

Beef prices have reached significant milestones in both the United States and Portugal. In the Alentejo region of Portugal, cattle prices rose sharply during the week of October 19 to 25, 2026. Specifically, Charolais crossbreed male calves saw increases of up to 200 euros per animal in Estremoz, representing a 16.7% weekly rise. Similar significant increases were noted in Évora and Alentejo Litoral.

In the United States, wholesale beef prices for October 2026 reached a new nominal record for the month, surpassing October 2025 levels. The USDA reported a price of $374.0 per hundredweight (cwt). This price pressure is attributed to a restricted supply of animals available for slaughter due to a shrinking national herd.

Concurrently, US imports of beef from Brazil reached a historic high in September 2026, totaling 44.44 thousand metric tons, surpassing the previous record set in April 2025.