January 9, 2015

Rabobank’s latest fourth quarter 2014 report on the global beef industry states that despite continuing tightening of global cattle and beef supplies, prices in the fourth quarter have leveled off from third quarter highs. Import demand from the U.S. is having a major impact upon volumes and prices in other countries. Going into the first quarter of 2015, this low supply and high demand scenario is expected to continue along with strengthening of prices. In other markets, the opening of the Russian and Chinese markets to Brazilian beef will keep international demand high for Brazil through 2015. Australia continues to see record slaughter levels keeping prices low, while New Zealand has experienced record farm-gate prices on high demand from the U.S. The EU market is splitting into parallel markets of a premium prime beef market which will remain elevated through 2015, and a ground beef market which will remain under pressure due to low demand and growing supply. To read further about the outlook for the Canadian, Indonesian, Argentine, and Mexican beef industries moving into 2015:

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