Brazilian meat processors scale back output as Chinese import quotas tighten

Entrepreneur Salen, who runs meat‑processing plants in Chapecó (SC) and Guatapará (SP), announced his interest in a partnership with the Capribom cooperative to boost commercialisation of goats and lambs from the Northeast. A letter of intent is to be sent and a visit to Capribom’s Monteiro headquarters planned.

Major processors including Frigol, Better Beef, Iguatemi Beef and Plena Alimentos have entered collective‑vacation periods and reduced daily slaughter rates while they await the next wave of Chinese beef imports. The slowdown is linked to China nearing its annual quota of roughly 1.1 million tonnes of Brazilian beef, prompting firms to shift output toward the domestic market.

Santa Catarina remains Brazil’s pork powerhouse, accounting for 28.1 % of national slaughter in Q1 2026. The Aurora Coop facility in Chapecó is the country’s largest pig‑slaughtering plant, processing millions of heads and producing 1.43 million tonnes of carcass weight.

Beef‑cattle prices fell in June, with the Cepea/Esalq index for the “boi gordo” dropping to R$ 336.40 per arroba, a 3.8 % monthly decline. Twenty of 33 monitored regions reported price falls, while processors continue to adjust capacity in response to the early exhaustion of Chinese import quotas.