Total beef imports for the first five months of 2026 are up 9.9% year over year. This is the smallest increase for the period since 2023 (Figure 1). For the month of May, beef imports were down 5% from one year ago, the first monthly year-over-year decrease since November 2025 and the largest monthly decrease since March 2023.
The decrease in May beef imports was led by a 41.5% year-over-year decrease in beef imports from Brazil. In fact, while Brazil remains the largest source of beef imports, imports from Brazil are down 6.8% year over year for the January to May period. Also, Uruguay, the No. 6 source of beef imports, was down 45.7% year over year in May, but is up 5.2% for the year to date.
Simultaneously, beef imports from Argentina are up as a result of the country-specific increased tariff rate quota (TRQ) this year. Beef imports from Argentina are up 113.8% year over year so far this year, with Argentina currently accounting for 4.3% of total beef imports. This moves Argentina into seventh place, up from eighth last year among beef import sources. In Figure 1, Argentina accounts for 32.5% of the “Other” category in 2026.
Australia is the No. 2 beef import source, up 11.8% in May and 12% for the year. In the January-May period, Australia increased to a 20.3% share of total imports, narrowing the gap with No. 1 Brazil, which decreased to 22.3% of the total.
With 15% of total imports, Canada is the No. 3 beef import source, up 12.3% year over year in May and up 4% for the year to date. Mexico is the fourth largest source of beef imports, up 27.4% for the year to date and accounting for 11.9% of total beef imports. The year-to-date quantity increase in beef imports from Mexico was the largest among all import sources and moved Mexico ahead of New Zealand in the first five months of the year. New Zealand is now the No. 5 source of beef imports, down 3.6% thus far in 2026 and accounting for a 10.3% share of total imports.
Beef imports continue to increase in 2026, albeit at a slower rate than the previous two years. Demand for beef imports remains strong as U.S. beef production, especially nonfed processing beef, is still declining. Beef cow slaughter has decreased 45% since 2022, contributing to a 27.2% decrease in nonfed beef production. Beef imports are providing an important contribution to total beef supplies and especially supporting ground beef markets while U.S. cattle inventories are reduced.
As expected, increased beef imports from Argentina have been significantly offset by decreased imports from other sources—in this case, Brazil and Uruguay. Changes in TRQs and tariffs change the mix of beef import sources but have relatively little impact on the total import quantity.
Sharply higher beef imports from Mexico—likely the result, in part, of decreased imports of Mexican cattle—also illustrates the integrated nature of cattle and beef trade. — Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist
