Last year, almost 300,000 cattle were exported, mainly to Turkey.
The export of live cattle from Uruguay increased by 272% during last year, in which almost 300,000 cattle were placed, mainly in Türkiyemeaning the highest figure since 2018, which was a record.
During 2023, shipments of live cattle totaled 298,510 head, an increase of almost 220,000 animals compared to 2022, and the most since the all-time record of 406,000 in 2018.
According to Tardáguila Agromercados, these sales brought the country a foreign exchange income of 245 million dollars, from an average value of 822 dollars per head.
Türkiye captured 93% of Uruguayan live cattle
In addition to the notable differences in the quantities shipped, there were also differences in the categories and destinations. In 2023, 93% of animals set sail for Türkiyeas it had been during 2017 and 2018, while, in 2022, China had monopolized 47% of the heads shipped, when Türkiye it did so only 30%.
Regarding categories, in 2022, 54% of exports were destined for reproduction, where 47% of them were females, with a vast majority of dairy and butcher calves and heifers shipped to China. In 2023, 95% of what was shipped Türkiyesome 250,000 calves, were destined for fattening.
At the end of 2023, Federico Di Santidirector of the agricultural business firm Di Santi Ltda., told Valor Added that there was “a certain expectation” among local producers due to the recovery of Chinese demand.
“The Chinese are buying much less quantity than they did at other times,” he pointed out. Di Santi who completed two exports to the Asian giant during 2023. However, he maintained that the conversations with Chinese importers “make them optimistic about making new shipments in the future.
Source: Ambito
