September 4, 2014

Paraguay to double cattle slaughters by 2020

Recently ranked in the eighth position as the world's top beef exporter, Paraguay is planning to double cattle slaughters by 2020, according to the country's Rural Association, ARP.

In 2013, 2.2million head of cattle were slaughtered in Paraguay, with 73% of beef exported and the rest reserved for domestic consumption.

The development sorted out at 1.6 million slaughtered for export, totaling 192.000 tonnes of beef or 288.000 tonnes with carcass, according to Carlos Pedretti, head of the stats at the Paraguayan Rural Association.

In 2014, Paraguayan abattoirs are expected to slaughter 4.2 million head of cattle, of which 3.1 million will be shipped overseas as beef exports, while 1.1 million will supply the local market.

At this rate, cattle farmers expect Paraguay to be exporting the equivalent of US$4 billion dollars in beef by 2010. Paraguay's export markets are mainly Chile, Russia and Brazil.

According to a USDA data, Brazil remains the leading beef exporter with over two million tonnes, followed closely by India with 1.9million tonnes; Australia at 1.56million tonnes; New Zealand at 535.000 tonnes; Uruguay at 385.000 tonnes; Canada at 355.000 tonnes and Paraguay at 350.000 tonnes.

A reference of the world's beef market some years back, Argentina records 200.00 tonnes of exports and is positioned at the 11th spot, ahead of Mexico with just 180.000 tonnes.

India, on the other hand, has emerged as a leading exporter, dominating approximately 20% of the global market.