While the December 6 announcement of the finalization of the Mercosur-European Union agreement sparked controversy in France's agricultural regions, in Brazil, JBS was celebrating. The Brazilian multinational, the world's leading producer of animal proteins, is ready to use the trade agreement to increase its presence in Europe, which accounted for around 7% of its exports in 2024.

The agreement allows Mercosur countries to export an additional 99,000 metric tons of beef at a reduced tariff of 7.5%. "JBS produces most of Brazil's top-quality meats, which are the most sought-after in Europe," explained Alessandro Francisco Trindade de Oliveira of the Federal Institute of Parana. He believes that Brazil "could at least double its meat exports to the European Union."

This would further boost the group's sales to 364 billion reais (€57.48 billion), with a stock market value of €13.3 billion. According to a study by the Economic Research Institute Foundation published in August 2023, its activities account for 2.1% of Brazil's gross domestic product and generate 2.73% of jobs.

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