While the US has long been a net exporter of beef, imports to the country are now reaching new heights<\/a> as the nation tries to resolve its domestic beef supply issues, which largely stem from underinvestment<\/a> in America\u2019s cattle herd a decade ago. Even with President Donald Trump\u2019s \u201cLiberation Day\u201d tariffs in place, the US was importing 30% more beef in the first half of the year<\/a> than in 2024, as it looked to contain soaring beef prices. <\/p>\n Sherwood News<\/p>\n The growing use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs might also be driving US beef demand. \u201cNo one knows exactly what is the impact of these new drugs, Ozempic or Mounjaro… but something is happening because protein overall became [a trend],\u201d Batista said last month. <\/p>\n A lot at steak<\/p>\n America\u2019s beef landscape is dominated by four big companies, which produced 81% of the nation\u2019s beef in 2021, per a USDA report last year<\/a>. And with supply tight and demand growing, beef in the US keeps getting pricier \u2014 which is making meat-packers, not least JBS, fatter.<\/p>\n The S\u00e3o Paulo-based company made almost $2 billion in profit last year, bouncing back after a loss the year before<\/a>, and has continued to see a 61% year-on-year uptick in net income in the latest quarter. <\/p>\n Now, JBS is looking to cement its status as the top beef producer in the US, where its wider meat and food business accounted for half its revenue in 2024. With prices increasing and the fact that the business produces most of the beef for its US market on American soil<\/a>, that may very likely continue to tick up in quarters to come. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n