The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has released its latest report on the state of the Argentinian beef industry. Argentina is forecast to slaughter 13.6m cattle, producing 3.1m US tons (2.8m tonnes) carcase weight equivalent (CWE).

The national cattle herd is forecast to remain around 54m, of which 22.5m to 23.5m are breeding cows. The annual calf crop typically falls between 14m and 15m, giving a 62% to 65% rate of births per cow.

Beef consumption per capit in Argentina is among the highest in the world and forecast at 51kg per person for next year. That leaves a quarter of production or 760,000t cwe available for export in 2021. China is Argentina’s main beef export market, taking 74% of all exports in the period from January to July this year. Europe is the next most important market for high-value cuts, and it filled 90% of the 29,500t Hilton Quota, which gives Argentina reduced-tariff access to the EU market.

Argentina has also re-entered the US market this year, supplying 10,800t up to the end of August.

China

Chinese demand for beef imports has continued to grow in 2020, despite the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Up to the end of July, it imported 1.2m tonnes, a 41% increase on the same period in 2019. Brazil is further consolidating its position as the main supplier, sending 430,000t, a 169% increase on the amount it supplied between January and July in 2019.

Argentina is second, sending 270,000t, a 45% increase on the previous year, while Australia is third on 185,000t. In the period January to July, Ireland sent 7,3100t, making us the ninth-largest supplier. However, this business is currently suspended since the discovery of a BSE case in May.