August 26, 2010

Argentina's July beef exports stay tight

Argentine beef exports during July grew 21% to 14,221 tonnes swt on-month, but were still 65% down compared with July 2009.

Shipments during the calendar year to July dropped 50% to 101,679 tonnes swt.

The decline in exports comes as a result of the decrease in beef output registered since December which had forced the closure of a number of plants, as well as the tight control in granting export certificates, as the local government aims to control beef price rises.

Argentina's main export destination during the calendar year to July continued to be Russia, totalling 25,451 tonnes swt. However, shipments to this country were back 62% compared with the same period in 2009.

Israel followed Russia with 15,172 tonnes swt, while Germany was Argentina's third largest market totalling 14,578 tonnes swt.