Fed cattle prices in Mato Grosso near parity with São Paulo
Price gap narrows to lowest level since 2017
5 June 2025
1 minute read
By: Fed cattle prices in Mato Grosso—the Brazilian state with the country’s largest cattle herd—are approaching parity with those in São Paulo, with the price gap narrowing steadily since late 2022, according to a market report from Cepea.
In April 2025, some trades in Mato Grosso were completed at higher prices than those in São Paulo. On average, the price difference between the two states was just BRL 9.50 per arroba (15 kg), in favour of São Paulo—the smallest margin recorded since mid-2017. By comparison, in April 2024, fed cattle in São Paulo were priced BRL 22.20 per arroba higher than in Mato Grosso.
In May, the average price in Mato Grosso exceeded the São Paulo index by BRL 12.30 per arroba. A year earlier, the situation was reversed, with São Paulo cattle commanding a BRL 20.10 premium over those in Mato Grosso.
Market trends in late May
After trending downward from the last week of April, fed cattle prices stabilised by the end of May. The CEPEA/ESALQ Index for fed cattle in São Paulo State fell 4% during the month, closing at BRL 306.10 on May 30. Meanwhile, wholesale beef carcass prices in the Greater São Paulo area declined 6.6%, ending the month at BRL 21.38 per kilo.
