China will account for 49.1% of Argentina's meat supplies in 2024

The complex's total EXPORT value was US $3.672 billion , ranking the beef and leather complex sixth in the country in terms of export value in 2024 .

According to the Rosario Stock Exchange, the most valuable export product was frozen boneless beef , which accounted for 48% of the total, reaching US$1.798 billion. 

Fresh or chilled boneless MEAT came in second , accounting for 25% of the total value at US$937 million, followed by cattle hides and products , which accounted for 10.2% of the total value at US$383 million.

Export directions

In terms of export destinations, CHINA took first place in 2024 , accounting for 49.1% of deliveries (excluding statistical secrecy). 

Thus, in 10 years, the complex's exports to China have increased more than sevenfold. More than three-quarters of the frozen beef exported by Argentina is sent to the People's Republic of China. 

Israel came in second with 7.8%, and the United States came in third, accounting for 7.5% of Argentina's foreign exchange earnings from beef and cattle hide exports.

“This third place is a significant factor in the context of growing trade tensions between the United States and other countries. The closure of this market would mean a loss of approximately US$260 million for Argentina in beef exports, based on 2024 export data,” the BCR report adds.

Meat exports in 2025:

In the first quarter of this year, Argentina's beef and hide export value was US$883 million, down 3.7% from the same period last year and 2.1% above the five-year average.

Of this amount, 12% goes to the United States, whose total exports amount to US$100 million, double the figure for the same period last year and a record for the first quarter on record (data available since 2002). 

“This allows our country to maintain exports in the face of falling demand from China , whose purchases in Argentina fell by 30% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025,” the Rosario Stock Exchange said in a report.