December 30, 2003

 

 

Argentina's January-November Beef Exports Up

 

Argentina exported $574 million worth of beef in the first 11 months of 2003, the country's animal- and food- inspection agency, Senasa, reported Monday.

 

Argentina, the world's No. 7 beef exporter, shipped 275,446 metric tons of beef - including fresh beef, chilled boneless cuts, frozen boneless cuts, processed cooked beef and related bovine innards - to more than 60 countries.

 

In terms of volume, this is 17% more than that was exported during the same period in 2002, according to Senasa. As measured in dollars, this is a 30% increase over similar sales from a year ago.

 

In the January-November period, Argentina shipped 27,518 tons of beef - worth $174 million - to the European Union under the Hilton Import quota program.

 

Non-Hilton-related chilled and frozen fresh beef shipments totaled 138,877 tons, or $248 million.

 

As usual, Germany was the biggest buyer of Hilton cuts, accounting for 16,578 tons. It was followed by Great Britain with 4,437 tons, Holland with 2,755 tons and Italy with 2,089 tons.

 

Russia was the biggest buyer of fresh beef, accounting for 22,998 tons during the first 11 months of 2003. Chile, which banned local beef after Argentina disclosed an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in late August, was the No. 2 destination with 19,739 tons.

 

Algeria ranked third with 17,059 tons.

 

Meanwhile, Argentina sold 42,436 tons of processed beef for a total value amount of $100 million.

 

The main buyer of processed beef was the U.S., accounting for 19,257 tons.

 

The U.S. has kept a ban on fresh Argentine beef since early 2001, when Argentina belatedly admitted to a widespread outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

 

Argentina exported 332,011 tons in 2000, the last normal export year before the country admitted to problems with foot-and-mouth disease.