January 18, 2005

US Imports More Uruguayan Beef

The US imported 148,434 tons of Uruguayan beef in 2004, in excess of a four-fold increase from 2003. The US was the major market for Uruguayan beef last year, receiving approximately 63% of total Uruguayan fresh and frozen beef exports.

Uruguay is allocated an annual US beef quota of 20,000 tons, of which 99% was filled last year. However, the majority of beef, 128,618 tons entered the US subject to the 26.4% over-quota tariff. The tariff is typically paid by the Uruguayan exporter, and included in the bid price for US importers.