Update
Global beef quarterly Q2 2026
Global beef markets are entering a period of gradual change. While new trade agreements are improving market access, tight supply and contracting production continue to dominate. Rising cattle prices and limited availability are expected to shape trade flows in 2026, with policy changes driving only modest near-term impact.
Recent trade policy changes are expected to influence global beef flows, but with limited short-term impact. New agreements between the EU and Mercosur, and Australia and the EU, improve market access but are unlikely to significantly boost volumes immediately. Meanwhile, renewed US access to China is tempered by limited supply, high prices, and quota constraints.
At the same time, global cattle prices rose in Q1 2026, while beef production continues to contract, down 2.5% year-on year and expected to decline further in 2026. Overall, tight supply conditions remain the dominant feature of the global beef market, with trade changes likely to shape flows gradually rather than drive near-term shifts.