December 23, 2003

 

Argentina's Jan-Oct Beef Exports Up

 

Argentine beef industry chamber Ciccra reported Argentine beef exports reached $419 million in the first 10 months of 2003.

 

Preliminary data shows that Argentina exported 286,257 metric tons of boned meat in the January to October period. In terms of volume, this represents an increase of 2.4% over the same period a year ago, Ciccra said. As measured in dollars, the increase amounts to 9.6% over the previous year.

 

The year-on-year increase was not higher for two reasons, Ciccra said.

 

First, in 2002 Argentina was able to export 14,000 tons more than usual to Europe under the so-called Hilton import quota program. Second, because of a recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, Chile - a major fresh beef market - closed its doors to the product.

 

The average FOB price between January-October was $1,465 per ton, according to the report. This is up 7.1% from the same period a year ago.

 

Argentina sold 54,403 tons - worth $230 million - of chilled cuts in the first 10 months of 2003, according to Ciccra. This is up 12.8% in terms of volume and 16% higher in terms of value from the same period a year ago.

 

Frozen cuts totaled 60,844 tons, or $88 million, through October. These are increases of 12.4% and 17.4%, respectively, over the previous year.

 

Argentina also sold 35,499 tons of cooked cuts - worth $84 million - between January and October of this year.

 

In terms of volume, Argentina's biggest export markets, in order of descending importance, are Germany, Chile, Israel, the U.S., Russia, the U.K., Hong Kong and Italy.

 

As measured in dollars, the most significant markets are, in order of descending importance, Germany, the U.S., the U.K., Chile, Italy, Holland, Israel and Russia.

 

Though the U.S. maintains a ban on fresh Argentine beef, it is the No. 1 importer of cooked cuts.

 

Meanwhile, local beef consumption is up 1% from a year ago, according to Ciccra. The average Argentine eats 60.9 kilograms of beef annually.

 

Finally, Ciccra said 1,180,000 head of cattle were slaughtered in October, up 23.7% from October of 2002.