Brazil to reach record meat production in 2026
Chicken and pork output projected to offset beef decline
BRAZIL – Brazil is set to produce a record 32.3 million tons of chicken, beef, and pork in 2026, according to government forecasts.
The estimate, released by the National Supply Company (Conab), suggests output will rise by 0.8% compared to 2025, even as beef production continues to fall.
Growth will largely come from chicken and pork, which are expected to record their highest levels in history, the agency linked to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock reported.
Chicken output is projected to climb 2.8% to 15.9 million tons in 2026, while pork volumes are forecast to expand by 3.6% to 5.8 million tons.
In contrast, beef production is expected to decline by 3.6% to 10.6 million tons, the lowest since 2023.
After reaching 11 million tons in 2024, beef volumes began to shrink in 2025 and are expected to continue falling in 2026, a trend linked to farmers slaughtering more females during periods of higher prices, reducing calf availability.
Despite the weaker beef performance, Brazil is projected to reach record meat exports of 11 million tons in 2026, an increase of 2.9% from the previous year.
Exports of all three proteins are expected to set new records, with chicken shipments rising 2.5% to 5.4 million tons, beef exports increasing 2.4% to 4.1 million tons, and pork exports growing 5.2% to 1.5 million tons.
Export outlook
Conab’s Fiber and Food Manager, Gabrile Correa, said shipments are likely to expand in both 2025 and 2026 despite the additional 50% tariff imposed by the United States on Brazilian products, including meat.
He explained that major Brazilian processors continue to supply the U.S. market because they operate production facilities within the country, softening the impact of the tariff.
Correa also pointed out that China remains Brazil’s most important customer, buying more than half of its meat exports and absorbing some of the volumes that are no longer headed to the United States.
The report confirms that Brazil will rely on poultry and pork to sustain growth in production and exports, while beef struggles with supply constraints linked to herd rebuilding.
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