Turkey's live cattle imports from Brazil surge 82% in first seven months

September 14, 2026 at 07:30 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Turkey imported 299,282 head of live cattle from Brazil in January-July 2026, an 82% increase from the same period last year. The purchases made Turkey the largest buyer of Brazilian live cattle, accounting for 40.2% of Brazil's total exports. Turkey's total live cattle imports reached 177,265 tonnes worth $904.6 million in the first seven months.

Key Facts

Turkey imported 299,282 head of live cattle from Brazil in January-July 2026, an 82% increase from the same period in 2025.
Turkey accounted for 40.2% of Brazil's total live cattle exports of 743,660 head in the first seven months of 2026.
Turkey's total live cattle imports reached 177,265 tonnes in January-July 2026, up 18.3% year-on-year, with payments totaling $904.6 million.
Brazil's live cattle exports rose 30.25% year-on-year to 743,660 head in January-July 2026, with 98.8% going to Middle East markets.
Turkey's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry announced in January 2026 a plan to import 500,000 head of fattening cattle this year.

Import Surge

Turkey's live cattle imports from Brazil jumped 82% in the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, reaching 299,282 head. The country's total live cattle imports rose 18.3% to 177,265 tonnes, with payments reaching $904.6 million. In 2025, Turkey paid approximately $1.2 billion for 239,400 tonnes of live cattle imports. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry announced in January 2026 that it would import 500,000 head of fattening cattle this year.

Brazil's Export Dominance

Brazil exported 743,660 head of live cattle in January-July 2026, a 30.25% increase from the previous year, according to Brazil's Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services. Turkey purchased 299,282 head, making it the largest buyer with a 40.2% share of Brazil's total live cattle exports. Morocco followed with 145,000 head, Iraq with 116,000 head, and Egypt with 95,000 head. Turkey's imports from Brazil were more than double those of Morocco, the second-largest buyer.

Market Outlook

Brazil's live cattle exports are projected to reach approximately 1.25 million head by the end of 2026. However, exports are expected to decline by 250,000 head in 2027. Turkey's imports in the first seven months of 2026 are approaching the $1 billion mark, indicating that last year's figures will be exceeded.