The Global Livestock Report

The Chinese government announced on Tuesday, November 25, a new extension—this time for two months—in the investigation on safeguard measures to protect domestic beef production, which had been set for November 26.

Of the 281 thousand tons of beef imported by China in October, 59% (167 thousand tons) arrived from Brazil, the highest share since late last year.

The prohibitive U.S. tariffs on Brazilian beef left a larger surplus available to be placed in China. With Trump’s announcement to remove the punitive 40% surcharge on Brazilian products, these record Brazilian volumes (October was China’s second-highest monthly import volume from Brazil, behind only the 171 thousand tons of September) may now be at risk.

Shipments from the three Mercosur countries that trade with China totaled 230 thousand tons, accounting for 82% of all imports. Compared with September, volumes declined for all three suppliers — mainly Argentina and Uruguay (both down 22%, to 46.7 thousand and 15.9 thousand tons respectively), while Brazil dropped only 2%.

The same pattern was seen for Australia (–27% month-to-month), New Zealand (–19%) and the United States, which supplied just 402 tons, less than half of its September volume.

The traditional dominance in specific import categories also remained unchanged:

• Australia maintained a wide lead in chilled beef (89% of the total),

• Argentina led in frozen bone-in beef (46%),

• Brazil dominated boneless frozen beef (70%), and

• Uruguay remained the main supplier of offal (50%).

Australia’s cattle industry posted record beef production in the September quarter, according to the ABS, driven by excellent seasonal conditions across the north. From January to September, the country produced 2.16 million tons of beef, up 13% year-on-year.

The Hungarian Parliament has approved a new law prohibiting the production and commercialization of meat proteins obtained in laboratories through cell-culture technology. Plant-based meat analogues are not included in the ban, which passed with 140 votes in favor, 10 against and 18 abstentions, according to Eurocarne.

In 2026 Türkiye’s cattle imports are forecast to stagnate at 450,000 head to compensate for animal losses due to high slaughter rates in 2024, projects the USDA office in Ankara. In line with historic trends, most of these imported animals will be feeder cattle for beef production. However, to help offset the projected contraction in inventories, the government is expected to continue authorizing breeding cattle imports in 2026 for both private and government farms.

In 2026 Turkiye’s cattle inventory is projected to fall by 4 percent to 14.3 million head, after falling 4% also in 2025, said the USDA office in Ankara. This decline is primarily attributed to high slaughter trends, high production costs, and low profitability, prompting farmers to liquidate their herds.