European Union imports significantly more beef

The beef import of the European Union has significantly increased in the first eight months of 2025. However, the import remains lower than expected based on the European tightness. Remarkably, the three major South American markets now hold more than half of the export to the EU. In addition, one African country stands out clearly. The European import of beef has shown a clear increase compared to last year for the period up to and including August. Compared to the same period in 2024, the import increased by 13% to 226,364 tons. This brought the import to the highest level since 2019. The import volume was still a significant 5.9% below the level of that year. Nevertheless, the volume remains substantial. Compared to the ten-year average, the import was 2.4% higher. The higher imports are a direct result of the tight European beef market. Due to the scarcity and subsequent high prices, it was particularly attractive to import beef. Particularly in July, the import stood out. In that month, the EU imported a record amount of beef, totaling 42,138 tons. This is not surprising, as the hospitality industry operates at full capacity during this period, and a large portion of the imported beef is destined for food service. Given the ongoing tightness and high prices, the increase in imports remains relatively limited. By comparison, the American beef import increased by 63.5% during the period up to and including June 2025 compared to 2022, the year before the market began to tighten there. In the European Union, imports during the same period increased by only 15.1% compared to 2023, when the market was still ample. The main explanation for this difference is that the European Union restricts imports through steep tariffs. The tariff-free quotas, on the other hand, are limited. Although importing at these rates has been occasionally profitable this year, it remains a marginal phenomenon. Strong representation from South AmericaThe main exporter to the European Union is and remains the United Kingdom. In the first eight months of 2025, the country accounted for 31% of the total export, or 70,110 tons in absolute figures. In absolute terms, exports increased by 16.3% compared to last year. Relatively, however, its share decreased slightly: last year, the United Kingdom accounted for 33.1% of the exports to the EU. In absolute terms, Brazil saw the strongest increase in export. Exports increased during the period up to and including August by 8,270 tons to 51,160 tons, an increase of 19.3%. Thus, Brazil is the second-largest exporter to the European Union. Following it is Argentina, with a volume of 39,680 tons, an increase of 18.6% or 6,230 tons. The strongest growth in relative terms came from Uruguay. Exports from that country increased by 29.4% to 30,240 tons. Thus, the three major South American exporters together account for more than half of the European import. Collectively, these countries have a share of 53.6% in the total export to the European Union. In 2024, that share remained just below half at 49.9%. Five years ago, the combined share of these exporters was still 42.1%. Remarkable is also the strong growth of exports from Namibia. In the first eight months of 2025, that country's exports amounted to 5,670 tons, accounting for 2.5% of the total export to the EU. This is an increase of 47.2% compared to the same period in 2024 and even 212% compared to 2023. Before that time, imports from Namibia were virtually negligible. Besides Namibia, there is one more African country that ships significant volumes of beef to the EU: Botswana. The country exported 2,040 tons, a decrease of 28.5% compared to a year earlier. Still, the exports remain significantly higher than in previous years. Compared to 2023, exports from Botswana have increased by 299%.