Brazil's beef cattle price steadies as Chinese export quota phase‑out approaches

The spot price of the arroba of Brazilian beef cattle held steady on Saturday, June 13, with the main Barretos and Araçatuba markets in São Paulo quoting R$ 346.50 and a 30‑day price of R$ 350.00. Most regional markets reported a stable or marginally mixed trend, with slight increases in Três Lagoas (MS) and Bahia South, and small declines in southern Minas Gerais and southeast Rondônia.

Analysts warn that the imminent exhaustion of China’s quota for Brazilian beef, scheduled for July 2026, may temper the recent price firmness. Export shipments in early June reached 62,589 tonnes, generating US$ 412.1 million, driven by strong Chinese demand. The anticipated drop in Chinese purchases after the quota ends could reduce export‑linked price premiums and lead to lower domestic arroba values, despite current internal demand and short‑term price stability.