In 2022, the volumes of bovine meat exported by the Mercosur they reached 3.4 million tons, a figure that marked an interannual growth of 16.4%, according to the Institute of Studies on the Argentine and Latin American Reality (Ieral) of the Mediterranean Foundation.
The table of exports last year in this regional bloc is led by Brazilwith 2 million tons, followed by Argentina (636,000 tons); Uruguay (396,000 tons) and Paraguay, with 334,000 tons.
Last year, Argentina’s participation in the bloc’s exports was 18.8%, a percentage that below the last three years, as estimated by the entity. “The country achieved its greatest role in 2009, with 22.5% of total shipments,” they said.
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The fact to take into account is that in that year, lthe liquidation of bellies was very strong, which made the process not sustainable over time. In 2010, and due to the lack of animals, exports suffered a sharp drop and the national share dropped to 10.5%.
To analyze the export growth of these countries in the last three years, Argentina was left out of the podium. The best numbers correspond to Paraguay, with an increase of 10.5%; followed by Brazil (8.3%); Uruguay (6%) and our country with 3.4%.
THE CHINA FACTOR
China It is the main external destination for the bovine meat produced by Mercosur, and it is also individually for the production of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, but not for Paraguay.
At the block level, 55% of the volumes exported went to the Asian giant in the period 2019-2021, according to the Ieral. The relevance of that market is higher for Argentina and in the last three years it has approached 75% of the total dispatched. Uruguay continues with 66%, Brazil with 55% and Paraguay does not export meat to China.
In the last five years, Chinese imports have expanded by 2 million tons, of which 1.47 million came from Mercosur. In the same period, the bloc’s total exports grew by 1.37 million. “All the increase in exports from Mercosur in recent years is explained for the largest purchases from China”they stated.
