Brazilian beef pays 67% tariff to enter China

The entry of Brazilian meat into the Chinese market will be charged with a total tariff of 67% from Thursday (1st). The additional rate of 55% will be added to the regular rate of 12%, since Brazil has exhausted the annual quota of exports defined by the Asian country. Brazilian meat China faces a significant increase in import tariffs.

The country has exceeded the target of 1.106 million tonnes set for 2026. By 2027, the allowed volume grows to 1.128 million tons, but industry professionals believe that this new level can be reached as early as March or April next year.

Immediate impact

The Asian destination leads Brazil’s beef exports and has expanded its share of the volume traded in the last ten years.

China imported 8.2 million tons of beef from Brazil between 2016 and 2025, corresponding to US$42.3 billion in commercial operations. In the period, the volume exported grew from 164,9 thousand tons in 2016 to 1.6 million tons in 2025.

The sector’s reliance on the Chinese market raises anxiety about the impacts of the surcharge on the box of refrigerators.

Strategy for 2027

With the risk of rapid depletion of the next quota, Abiec looks at the feasibility of industries anticipating meat manufacturing and shipments.

slaughters can be carried out in October;

shipments are scheduled for November;

the sea journey between the two countries takes 40 to 45 days;

The meat is expected to be delivered to China in January next year.

The following year’s quota could be used as early as its entry into force. However, the volume of Chinese acquisitions will be critical to business performance.

Pressure on refrigerators

Abiec reports that the impacts of the limitation began before the end of the quota. In recent months, refrigerators have decreased exports to the Asian country and have had to look for new destinations for their sales.

Abiec has resumed negotiations with the government on the division of the 2027 quota between refrigerators. The suggestion aims to spread shipments throughout the year and prevent a small number of companies from concentrating all availability.

On Tuesday, the Chinese authority allowed two new Brazilian industries to ship beef: one located in Minas Gerais and another in Pernambuco.

Protectionism in China

China has implemented the quota system to protect its domestic market in the face of growing imports. The additional fee is not only applied to Brazil and also impacts other exporting countries.

The scenario in the Chinese market still includes more affordable prices for beef and an increase in domestic production. The country’s purchases of the product have risen from less than 1.5 million tons in 2018 to approximately 2.8 million tons in recent years.

Brazil has assumed responsibility for more than 40% of the total beef imported by China.

The decline in Brazilian beef exports to China comes in a context of greater focus by the domestic sector on the conditions for entry into the Chinese market. Abiec forecasts a drop of approximately 10% in total exports for 2026 compared to the previous year, amid a scenario that also presents limitations imposed by the European Union.