Colombian meat exports exceeded 3,000 tons per month for the first time in the year in September, recording revenues of more than US$15 million.
According to Fedegán, the last time a similar number of tons was marketed was in February 2023, but the value was lower, at US$14.6 million.
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By destination of the shipments, although Russia continues to be the main buyer of Colombian meat, with 9,368 tons for US$35.6 million (58.6% participation), the news is that China replaced Chile as the second destination for Colombian protein, reaching 2,123 tons for US$8.9 million (14.7%).
This behavior is notable if we take into account that, after 10 years of negotiations, It was only in September of last year that the protocol for exporting Colombian beef to the Asian giant was approved.
This way, Chile is now third with 1,213 tons for nearly US$6 million (9.8%), followed by El Salvador with 721 tons for almost US$4 million (6.5%).
Other destinations, including Curacao, Hong Kong, Egypt, Iraq, Libya or Saudi Arabia, They complete the list with 1,533 tons for nearly US$6.3 million (10.3%).
According to Óscar Cubillos, head of the Fedegán Office of Planning and Economic Studies, “the first shipment to China was made last May, but it was not so constant at the beginning. By August we were already at a thousand tons and look how it skyrocketed in September, reaching 2,100.”
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Cubillos pointed out that this recovery is due in part to the revival of the Chinese economy, which was slowing down, which had reduced both prices and consumption.
In addition, some suppliers such as Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay looked for other markets that offered higher prices, which encouraged China to increase its purchases of Colombian meat.
This was also the result of the increase in the exchange rate, since since June the dollar began to grow against the peso, which has sparked interest and reactivated meat exports.
“Our exchange rate has risen and that stimulates exports, because each ton exported has a price in dollars and when it leaves here, more pesos are received. That has boosted meat exports, because we went from 14,000 tons to 18,000 in a single month,” Cubillos indicated.
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For the last quarter of the year, Cubillos predicted that, thanks to this rise in the exchange rate, The Colombian livestock sector could maintain its competitiveness abroadr, but did not venture to make a categorical analysis because the market dynamics have been very variable throughout 2024.
“There is a better expectation for the economy at the end of this year and towards 2025, but since things can happen that one does not foresee, there is a bit of uncertainty. We do hope that meat sales will continue to rise due to the reactivation of the Chinese economy, which is becoming dynamic again,” he concluded.
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It is worth noting that the Chinese market is also attractive due to the internal price of beef, While in Colombia a kilo costs around US$9.68, in China it amounts to US$17.88.
