Tariff increase causes prices of vegetables and beans to fall in August in the South

Brazilians paid less in August for products subject to U.S. export tariffs. Foods like eggs saw their average price drop by 4%, while red meat saw a reduction of up to 3,4%, according to a new survey by Neogrid, a technology and data intelligence ecosystem that develops solutions for managing the consumer supply chain.

The study "Price Variations: Brazil & Regions" reveals that the largest decline occurred in the vegetables category, with a 6,7% drop, influenced by better weather conditions and the resulting increased supply. Among animal products, beef cuts fell from R$38,07 in July to R$36,77 in August, a 3,4% drop, while pork fell from R$19,45 to R$18,87, a 3% decline. Cassava flour also saw a 2,5% drop.

One of the factors that most influenced price behavior in August was the increase in import taxes. "Since the United States is one of the largest buyers of meat and soy products from Brazil, the tariff hike reduced export volume, which increased domestic supply and put downward pressure on prices in these categories," explains Anna Carolina Fercher, Strategic Data Leader at Neogrid.

"The impact isn't limited to the trade balance, as it directly impacts Brazilians' shopping carts. For the coming months, prices are expected to remain stable, reflecting more controlled inflation," Fercher analyzes. She warns, however, that the market remains sensitive to factors such as harvest, logistics, and exchange rates.

On the other hand, other categories saw increases in August, such as toothpaste (1,9%), margarine (1,7%), soybean oil (1,6%) and salt (1,6%), which saw an increase in average prices. Among leisure and beverage items, beer saw an increase of 1,2%.

Highest accumulated increases in 2025

Considering the accumulated total from December 2024 to August 2025, coffee, both ground and whole beans, continues to lead with an average price per kilo of R$73,75, a variation of 37,6% in the analyzed period. Other products that registered increases were margarine (6,3%), toothpaste (5,7%), bread (2,1%) and soft drinks (1,3%).

Price variations in July in the south

In the southern region, the categories that showed the greatest price increases were disinfectants (3,2%), liquid detergent (2,8%), soap (2,5%), soybean oil (2,3%) and beef (2,1%). On the other hand, the largest declines were observed in vegetables (-4,4%), beans (-2,9%), shampoo (-2,7%), UHT milk (-1,7%) and mineral water (-1,6%).