Argentina's June beef exports dropped 38% on year to 8,048 tonnes.

The decline in June exports contributed to the 26% fall in shipments during the first six months of the year, to 59,469 tonnes cwt, the lowest volumes for the January-June period in the past 10 years.

The reduction in shipments from January-June was driven by a significant fall to Russia (5,533 tonnes cwt, back 48%) and Venezuela (1,696 tonnes cwt, down 45%). Chile was the only country to register an increase in beef volumes from Argentina, up 63%, to 12,698 tonnes cwt. The USDA has forecast Argentinean beef exports to reach 280,000 cwt tonnes in 2012.