In the first two months of the year, a marked growth in the weight of meat exports on the total volume produced was observed. While local consumption has decreased due to the economic crisis, the shipments were the largest in more than five decades.
According to official data from the Coordination for Livestock Analysis based on data from SENASA, DNCCA and INDEC, Overseas sales in February reached 82,548 tonnes of beef equivalent and thus surpassed the previous month’s record, a level unprecedented in the last 57 years.
Record also in the cumulative period of January-February 2024, with sales reaching 160,000 tons. “These numbers confirm a trend of sustained growth in beef exports, driven by a change in export policy implemented by the national government,” the Bioeconomy Secretariat said.
The phenomenon occurs in the context of a mild reduction of slaughter and meat production compared to the first two months of 2023. Slaughtering between January and February reached 2.2 million animals, 45 thousand animals less than in the same period of 2023, 2% less. For its part, meat production was 504,263 tons, with an interannual decline of 1.59%.
The 82,548 tons of beef equivalent shipped in February represent a growth of 25 percent compared to February 2023 exports. The main destination of Argentine meat exports continues to be China, which represents 75% of the volume, while the European Union represents 7.9%, Israel 7.1%, Chile 3.3% and United States 2.8%.
Meanwhile, meat consumption per capita in Argentina was 42 kilos, and the annual rolling average dropped to 51.41 kilos per capita, 0.45% less than in February 2023.
Source: Clarin
