Global beef market faces tight supply and high prices through 2027

The international beef market is projected to maintain high prices through 2027, driven by restricted cattle supply in major producing regions including South America, the United States, and Australia. Alisson Navarro, an executive at MBRF, noted during the SIAL fair in Paris that while current prices are significant, the market fundamentals remain favorable due to high demand and limited availability of cattle for slaughter.

In the United States, the USDA has revised production projections downward, anticipating that 2026 volumes will reach the lowest levels since 2015. This contraction is attributed to reduced slaughter numbers for steers and heifers, as well as a slow recovery of the cattle herd.

In Brazil, market data shows a slight increase in the price of fat cattle, with the Datagro reference rising in late October 2026, even as B3 futures contracts experienced some downward pressure.