# Monthly U.S. beef import volumes from Brazil surge to record high in early 2022 | Economic Research Service

> USDA ERS reports that US beef imports from Brazil hit a record in early 2022, with January imports near 100 million pounds, up more than 500% year over year. Fresh beef from Brazil became eligible for import in February 2020, and high US beef prices and Australian drought have pulled supply toward Brazil.

- Date: 2022-04-08 · published 2022-04-08T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: trade · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/41783-monthly-u-s-beef-import-volumes-from-brazil-surge-to-record-high-in-early-2022
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Heavier processing-grade beef imports add supply to the US lean-trim market, which can cap domestic cow and lean beef prices. Tariff rate quota limits could eventually restrict further inflows.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bearish ▼
- LCATTLE: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2016-12-08 | [Ranchers, Facing Record Low Prices, Confront Surge of Brazilian Imports​ — Food & Power](https://feedsoft.ai/events/73419-ranchers-facing-record-low-prices-confront-surge-of-brazilian-imports-food-and.md) | -1.2% | +4.4% |
| LCATTLE | 2024-09-27 | [On the move: More beef imports from Australia, Brazil, Uruguay \| TSLN.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/28249-on-the-move-more-beef-imports-from-australia-brazil-uruguay-tsln-com.md) | +1.1% | +2.4% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-07-27 | [U.S. to resume limited Mexican cattle imports as beef supplies tighten \| TPR](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18295-u-s-to-resume-limited-mexican-cattle-imports-as-beef-supplies-tighten-tpr.md) | -0.6% | -2.9% |
| LCATTLE | 2021-02-11 | [Imports of Cattle and Beef Hit Historical High in 2020 - R-CALF USA](https://feedsoft.ai/events/48572-imports-of-cattle-and-beef-hit-historical-high-in-2020-r-calf-usa.md) | -0.3% | +1.1% |
| LCATTLE | 2025-11-24 | [Export beef trade starts to react to Trump’s surprise Brazil tariff decision - Beef Central](https://feedsoft.ai/events/6072-export-beef-trade-starts-to-react-to-trump-s-surprise-brazil-tariff-decision.md) | -3.1% | +4.4% |
| FCATTLE | 2016-12-08 | [Ranchers, Facing Record Low Prices, Confront Surge of Brazilian Imports​ — Food & Power](https://feedsoft.ai/events/73419-ranchers-facing-record-low-prices-confront-surge-of-brazilian-imports-food-and.md) | +0.6% | +1.1% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-09-01 | [Economists don’t expect reopening the US to Mexican cattle imports to reduce high beef prices \| News \| palestineherald.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17424-economists-don-t-expect-reopening-the-us-to-mexican-cattle-imports-to-reduce.md) | +2.3% | +3.8% |
| FCATTLE | 2024-09-27 | [On the move: More beef imports from Australia, Brazil, Uruguay \| TSLN.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/28249-on-the-move-more-beef-imports-from-australia-brazil-uruguay-tsln-com.md) | +1.5% | +1.6% |

## Sources

- ers.usda.gov: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=103669

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.