Argentina Beef Report: Russia Largest Market; Hong Kong Offal

Recently, Argentina’s National Service of Agriculture Food, Health and Quality (SENASA) released Argentina’s third quarter beef export statistics. The data includes fresh beef, offals, processed beef and Hilton cuts. According to the numbers, Argentina’s beef exports during the third quarter equaled 139,735 MT. This was 38.9 percent more than the previous quarter but was slightly less than a year ago. During the third quarter, Argentina exported 39,339 MT of beef to Russia, which was 82.7 percent higher than the previous quarter but was 44.0 percent lower than a year ago. Total year-to-date beef exports to Russia were 39.9 percent below a year ago, amounting to 77,912 MT. Nonetheless, Russia was Argentina’s largest beef export market with a 23.4 percent market share.

Argentina’s beef exports to Chile during the third quarter rose 24.8 percent over the previous quarter to 14,889 MT. Also, this was up 804.6 percent over a year ago. Year-to-date beef exports to Chile reached 38,353 MT, 286.5 percent greater than last year. Exports of beef to Hong Kong during the third quarter totaled 7,857 MT. This was down 13.8 percent from the previous quarter and was down 14.0 percent from a year ago. During the first three quarters of the year, beef exports to Hong Kong rose 20.7 percent over a year ago to 27,965 MT.

Argentina’s third quarter beef exports to the U.S. equaled 5,417 MT. Although this was 34.3 percent higher than the previous quarter, it was 17.5 percent less than a year ago. Total year-to-date beef exports to the U.S. were 18.7 percent lower than last year, amounting to 12,522 MT. During the first three quarters of the year, Argentina’s primary export market for Hilton cuts was Germany with 56.7 percent of the total. The main fresh beef export market, with 33.8 percent, was Russia.

The U.S. was the largest processed beef export market with 43.2 percent. The main offal export market was Hong Kong with 28.3 percent of the total. Of Argentina’s total beef exports during the first three quarters of the year, 57.0 percent consisted of fresh beef, 28.3 percent was offals, 8.7 percent was processed beef, and 5.9 percent was Hilton cuts. Overall, during the first three quarters of the year, Argentina’s beef exports equaled 333,592 MT, 5.4 percent higher than the corresponding period a year ago.