Businessman Wesley Batista, a family member who controls JBS, told the Financial Times On Sunday (6) that the United States do not produce enough beef to meet the growing demand for diets rich in protein, which has led the country to depend more and more on imports.
According to Batista, “the US faces the price of highest beef in history and need to import more and more because production is not enough to support demand.” Data from the US Department of Labor shows that the average price of ground meat pound reached $ 6.32 in August, up 13% in one year.
Even after President Donald Trump announced in April a round of tariffs up to 50% of Brazilian products, US meat imports grew 30% in the first half of 2024. In the case of Brazil, purchases increased 91% before retreating in August after increased tariffs.
Continues after advertising
JBS, the world’s largest meat processor, operates nine units in the United States, where half of its $ 77 billion global revenue is concentrated in 2024. Batista pointed out that tariffs do not significantly affect the group, as most production for the US market is made within the country itself.
The executive also associated part of the increased demand for protein with increasing use of GLP-1-based weight loss medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. “No one knows exactly what is the impact of these new medicines, but something is happening, because the protein has become a trend,” he said.
International Food Information Council survey indicates that 71% of US consumers tried to increase protein consumption by 2024, compared to 67% by 2023 and 59% in 2022, a reflection of a change in food behavior that, according to Batista, has been supporting strong demand even in the midst of high prices.
Continues after advertising
According to the newspapers The globe e S.Paulo FolhaWesley Batista was received by Trump in weeks before the US president made a public nod to Lula at the opening of the UN General Assembly in New York. The businessman would have had a central participation in the opening of dialogue between the two governments. One of the objectives of Lula management is to reduce rates and increase the exemption list – which could include meat.
