October 20, 2005

Argentine beef exports surge for January to September 2005

Argentine beef exports surged 27 percent year-on-year to reach 434,387 tonnes for January and September 2005, according to the country's animal and food inspection agency, Senasa.

The exports were worth US$997 million, up 30 percent from US$765 million during the same period last year.

Many countries banned Argentine beef after the foot-and-mouth disease, or FMD outbreaks in 2001. But most countries have already lifted their bans ever since Argentina had no FMD problems since September 2003.

Senasa said Argentina was the third largest beef exporter in the world after Brazil and Australia.                            

Meanwhile, Argentina's processed beef exports reached 38,387 tonnes worth US$106 million in September this year. The US was the top importer of Argentina's processed beef at 19,012 tonnes worth US$54 million.

While the US and Canada have not yet lifted their bans on fresh Argentine beef since 2001 due to FMD, both countries sent inspectors to Argentina in June this year, to evaluate the sanitary situation there. They would then consider whether their respective bans could be lifted.

The USDA has forecast Argentina's beef exports for 2005 and 2006 at 700,000 tonnes and 720,000 tonnes respectively.