Brazil Overtakes US as World’s Largest Beef Producer in 2025
According to the Economic Desk of Webangah News Agency, Brazil has emerged as the world’s largest beef producer in 2025, overtaking the United States. Official Brazilian trade data reveals the country exported beef worth around $17 billion this year.
Mauricio Nogueira, head of consulting firm Athenagro, stated that Brazil’s beef production significantly exceeded his 2025 forecast. Production grew by 4% last year, contrary to his prediction of a 2.7% decline. The 800,000-ton increase nearly equals Argentina’s total annual beef exports – the world’s fifth-largest beef exporter.
Rabobank, which had anticipated a decline in Brazil’s beef production, instead observed 0.5% growth. The US Department of Agriculture revised its Brazilian beef production estimate upward by 450,000 tons to 12.35 million tons in December.
If market estimates hold, 2025 marks the first year Brazil’s output surpasses America’s. The USDA projects US production will fall 3.9% to 11.8 million tons in 2025.
The USDA further forecasts US beef production will drop another 0.9% to 11.7 million tons in 2026.
Government data shows Brazil maintains a cattle herd of 238 million head – more than double America’s 94 million.
The USDA predicts production among the world’s six largest beef producers will decline 2.4% collectively in 2026, following a 0.4% increase in 2025, representing the largest annual decrease in decades.
