Key facts
- Brazil will use Uruguay's surplus beef export quota to China, according to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
- The authorization was granted after Lula met with Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi in New York.
- China imposed a 55% tariff on beef imports exceeding quota levels from key suppliers, including Brazil, in January.
- Brazil had shipped 98.5% of its 1.1 million metric ton beef export quota from November to June.
- Brazil's total beef export volumes are expected to drop 10% year-on-year in 2026 due to restrictions and curbs.
Brazil will utilize Uruguay's surplus beef export quota to China, as announced by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Lula expressed his gratitude for the authorization, which was granted following a meeting with Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi in New York. This arrangement comes as China had previously implemented a significant 55% tariff on beef imports that exceed quota levels from major suppliers, including Brazil, in an effort to protect its domestic cattle industry. Between November and June, Brazil had already dispatched 98.5% of its 1.1 million metric ton beef export quota, with projections indicating the quota would be fully utilized by August. Industry group Abiec anticipates a 10% year-on-year decrease in Brazil's total beef export volumes in 2026, citing Beijing's restrictions and recent curbs on Brazilian meat exports to the European Union.