US sharply increases purchases of Paraguayan beef as prices rise

The US significantly increased purchases of Paraguayan beef in 2026. In January–August, shipments to the US market rose by 56.2% in volume and by 68.2% in value compared with the same period last year.

Over the first nine months, the US imported 42.8 thsd tons of Paraguayan beef worth $263.9 mln, becoming the country’s third-largest export market after Chile and Israel.

Overall, Paraguay exported 209.9 thsd tons of beef worth $1.477 bln in January–September. Export volumes fell by 24.2% y/y, while revenue declined by only around 8%.

The difference was largely due to higher export prices. The average price of Paraguayan beef increased from $5.80/kg last year to $7.04/kg this year, up 21.4% y/y, partially offsetting the decline in shipment volumes.

Chile remained the largest buyer, importing 62.7 thsd tons worth $443.9 mln over the nine-month period. Other major destinations included Israel, Taiwan, Brazil and Canada, while the US continued to increase its importance in Paraguay’s beef export structure.

Tags: Beef cattle, USA, Paraguay