May 5, 2004

Argentina Dairy Exports Up 25% In First Quarter 2004

Argentina exported 44,431 tons of dairy products valued at $86.7 million in the first quarter of this year, a 25 percent increase relative to the same period last year, officials said.

Cow-milk exports during this period were 38,476 tons valued at about $73 million, a 26 percent increase in value and a 2 percent decrease in volume compared with the first quarter of 2003, the National Health and Quality of Food and Agriculture Service (Senasa) said.

The top destinations for Argentine milk were Algeria, Venezuela, Mexico and Brazil.

Mexico, the United States, Russia, Chile and Brazil were the leading importers of Argentine cheese in the first quarter.