Beef exports from Mercosur, the world’s biggest source of beef, will contract in 2023 mainly because of lower demand from China, its main buyer. According to projections from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the prospect of a small increase in exports from Brazil will be more than offset by declines in shipments from the other three countries in the bloc, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.  

Overall, it predicts Mercosur exports in 2023 will have a volume of more than 4.6 million tonnes, falling by 75,000 tonnes compared to 2022. 

Of the four main suppliers of beef to the world (Mercosur, North America, Oceania and India), only Oceania will grow, USDA said, with an expected increase of 200,000 tonnes from Australia. 

Share this story: