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Japan is one of the world’s most important markets for beef, both for the volume consumed and for the high added value paid for premium cuts.
According to Forbes Agro, the country ranks among the world’s largest beef importers. Some 700,000 tonnes of beef are consumed annually, about 57% of which are imported. Furthermore, the Japanese market pays up to 29% more for premium beef, which can generate significant gains for Brazilian producers and slaughterhouses.
However, it is one of the most stringent destinations from a sanitary standpoint, with technical protocols and controls that have historically limited access for international suppliers. It is precisely this combination — scale and strictness — that makes opening the Japanese market strategic for Brazil. This is because Brazilian progress in this market is seen not only as a commercial move but also as a seal of sanitary and reputational recognition for the entire national beef chain.
Southern Brazil on Japan’s radar
In this context, the Southern region of Brazil stands out. States such as Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná and Santa Catarina have made consistent progress in sanitary status, disease control and production organization — decisive factors for meeting the requirements of the Japanese market. Santa Catarina was the first to obtain foot-and-mouth disease-free status without vaccination in 2007, followed by Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul in 2021, according to a Globo Rural article.
According to the Agrofy News, the Brazilian government has been directing efforts to enable the export of beef from these states to Japan, recognizing that the South’s sanitary profile can serve as a gateway to the Japanese market. The strategy involves technical negotiations, regulatory alignment and demonstrating compliance with the standards required by the Asian country.
Between June 9 and 13, for example, a mission from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) audited the structure of the Official Veterinary Service (SVO) in Brazil, reinforcing that the country has come to be seen as a potential supplier — although the market-opening process requires time and technical rigor.
Strategy gains weight in a more complex global scenario
The pursuit of the Japanese market takes place in an international context marked by trade tensions and the reconfiguration of global animal protein flows. As reported by Globo Rural, amid tariff disputes involving the United States, Brazil has stepped up efforts to open up and diversify markets, including Japan, as part of a strategy to reduce risks and expand destinations for national beef.
According to sector analyses, expanding access to premium markets is seen as a complement to strengthening Brazilian exports to already established major buyers, such as China, helping to balance portfolio, value and geopolitical exposure.
Quality, sustainability and traceability at the center of the narrative
Beyond animal health, the sustainability and production transparency agenda has gained prominence in talks with Japan. Regional and corporate initiatives in the South of the country have sought to link meat quality, environmental practices and traceability as competitive differentiators, leveraging the region’s reputation for quality. Since 2006, for example, the Carne do Pampa Gaúcho is the only geographical indication for beef in the entire Americas and one of the first three Brazilian Indications of Origin (IG200501) in any sector, according to the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), placing Rio Grande do Sul as a pioneer in valuing products of controlled origin. The seal, granted by the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) to products or services whose reputation is directly linked to their place of origin, officially recognizes that product characteristics — such as flavor, tenderness and production system — are associated with the territory of the Campanha gaúcha, where extensive cattle ranching on natural pastures has been traditional for centuries.
Nationally, all efforts aimed at improving traceability systems, outlined in the National Plan for Individual Identification of Cattle and Buffaloes (PNIB), launched by MAPA to individually identify 100% of the herd by 2032, as well as all the advances promoted by the ABC+ Plan, can also work in favor of Brazilian beef.
A technical, gradual and strategic path
A potential opening of the Japanese market to Brazilian beef does not represent an immediate move, but a technical, gradual and highly selective process. Still, recent signals — such as technical missions, negotiations focused on the South of the country and alignment with sanitary requirements — indicate that Brazil has entered Japan’s radar as a potential supplier.
More than volume, this move contributes to Brazil’s positioning in external markets: accessing one of the most demanding markets in the world means raising the level of the entire Brazilian export chain and reinforcing the country as a reliable producer of high-quality animal protein.
Reference sources:
- Why exporting beef to Japan is strategic for Brazil
- With an eye on Japan, government wants to export beef from RS, PR and SC | Agrofy News
- Amid a US tariff surge, Brazil focuses on opening the Japanese market to beef
- Brazil shifts focus from the US to China and sees Americans suffer with historic meat prices: exports surge 41% and the balance with Beijing already totals US$93 billion in 2025 – CPG Click Petróleo e Gás
- Faced with a tariff surge, the livestock sector bets on diversification