Argentina: Meat exporters seek opportunities in volatile global market

Herrera first addressed the trade war between the US and Brazil, which has directly impacted the latter's exports . "Due to tariffs imposed by the United States, Brazilian beef is now subject to a 76.4% tariff, making further developments virtually impossible," the expert stated.
In this regard, the APEA president explained that the main concern for Argentina is the indirect consequences of the current situation. He predicted that Brazil will divert a significant portion of the volume it cannot place in the US to other markets, such as CHINA and Mexico. "Brazilian beef is generally cheaper than Argentine beef, which could negatively impact local exports," he warned.
He also emphasized that not only will Argentina benefit from the gap created by Brazil, but other competitors such as Uruguay, Paraguay, Australia , and New Zealand could also gain their share of this quota.

Sector Recovery and Key Factors.
In an interview with FM Vos 94.5, Herrera emphasized that 2025 can be divided into two phases. "In the first, from January to April, EXPORT volumes were lower than the previous year, while in the second, in June and July, there was growth. There was a clear improvement. This change has inspired moderate optimism for the remainder of the year," he acknowledged.
"The recovery is driven by three main factors: the devaluation, which has contributed to the sector's competitiveness, the adjustment of export duties on steers (which were reduced to 5%), and very strong international demand amid rising prices. We are slightly more optimistic about the remainder of the year," he stated.

Uncertainty about the Chinese market and domestic consumption.
The main concern for the sector is China, which accounts for almost 70% of Argentina's MEAT exports. Therefore, Herrera warned that in November, the Chinese government will announce some kind of protective measures against meat imports. "This could result in a quota or tariff that would hinder exports, although the extent of these possible measures is still unclear," he stated.
On the other hand, the sector leader expressed confidence that increased exports will not negatively impact domestic meat prices . "Livestock prices are already high, and this is driven by supply and demand, not exports. Moreover, local meat consumption has not declined; it remains at 50 kg per person. We do not believe that exports will impact prices," he concluded.