Measure could have an impact on the country’s refrigerated and frozen meat export market

 

Argentina, one of the world’s leading beef exporters, will now be able to ship its live cattle abroad for slaughter. This after President Javier Milei repealed, through an executive order, a 1973 rule that prohibited Argentina from sending its cows to slaughterhouses abroad. The measure seeks to open new markets for the South American country’s livestock sector.

 

The measure, which will come into force on February 27, could put Argentina’s meat packing plants – which export refrigerated and frozen meat – in check, where local companies such as Grupo Coto and Grupo Beltrán compete with Brazil’s Marfrig Global Foods SA and Minerva SA. 

 

It is worth mentioning that Argentina, an agricultural power, has a cattle herd of some 53 million head, a figure that far exceeds its human population, and is the world’s fifth largest beef exporter, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

 

Global Context 

 

The export of live cattle is an active and important market in the world. Most cattle-producing countries allow it (92 countries export live cattle). The world’s largest exporter is Australia with vessels shipping up to 30,000 head of cattle to supply the Asian market. Australia, France and Canada each export more than US$1 billion in live cattle exports per year. Uruguay exports 250,000 head per year and Brazil 750,000 head per year.

 

Live cattle is also important because it is a product sought after by societies that have particular slaughter methods (Turkey, for example, which does not slaughter castrated animals).

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