[REVISION HISTORY]

Brazilian dairy and livestock production trends

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-07 09:18 UTC → 2026-10-09 06:22 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Brazilian dairy and livestock sectors are undergoing structural shifts characterized by declining herd sizes but increasing productivity and value. In 2025, national milk production reached a record 36.7 billion liters, marking its third consecutive year of growth. This 2.7% increase occurred despite the number of milking cows falling to 14.7 million—the lowest level since 1979—resulting in a 5.6% rise in productivity per cow to an average of 2,498.7 liters. ~~This trend is driven by genetic improvements, favorable weather, and a market reorganization where smaller producers exit in favor of technologically advanced operations.~~ In the broader livestock sector, the national cattle herd decreased by 1.7% in 2025 to 234.3 million head. Mato Grosso holds the largest herd at 31.6 million, though it saw a 3.7% reduction due to increased female slaughter. To compensate, Mato Grosso is targeting high-value niche markets in Peru and exploring new Pacific routes to Asia. Brazil has now emerged as the world’s largest beef producer, surpassing the United States with annual exports of 3.5 million tonnes. While Brazil historically consumed 70 per cent of its production domestically, this has dropped to 61 per cent as lucrative export prices drive demand. China remains the primary destination, receiving 46 per cent of Brazilian exports. Despite a nearly 40% drop in beef export volume in September 2026 compared to 2025, the average price per kilogram rose by 11.9% to US$6.28, contributing to record revenues of US$12.96 billion through September 2026. ~~Additionally, the~~ The sector is also seeing corporate consolidation, such as the agreement between JBS and Viva Holding to merge their leather and chemical manufacturing operations into a new entity, JBS Viva. Additionally, the beef sector is seeing growth in the protein snack category, with a projected annual growth of 7.2% through 2035. Regionally, Paraíba ~~has emerged as~~ remains a leader in goat milk ~~production through specialized breeding.~~ production.

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