The meat exports of Uruguay They are going through a start to the year with improvements after a 2023 of low demand, especially from the main destination of this product, China. In January, and according to data from National Meat Institute (INAC)meat placements grew by 11.5%.
Although the record figures of 2022 set the bar very high, the meat exports They seem to want to advance along the path of recovery in the face of a 2023 that felt the impact of the drought, the fall in international prices and low demand from the main buyers.
In that sense, placements of the main Uruguayan product grew by 11.5% between January 1 and February 3, according to INAC data, and when compared to the same period last year. That is, a total of 52,935 tons compared to 47,450 tons in 2023.
Likewise, the income For these exports They represented an increase of 7.9%, while 201.3 million dollars were obtained, while last year, the sum was 186.6 million dollars. In any case, the increase in export volume was not accompanied equally by the increase in income because commodity prices in the international market remain weak, in general.
This can also be seen in greater detail in the fact that the average price per ton During the first month of the year it was 3,804 dollars, while in 2023 it averaged 3,934 dollars, registering a downward adjustment of 3.3% from year to year.
Products and markets
The beef accounted for 79% of the total foreign exchange meat exports, and had an 11% increase in its income, representing a total of 165.5 million dollars. In volume, meanwhile, the increase was 12.4%, going from 36,912 tons in January 2023 to 41,505 tons last January.
The placement price per ton, meanwhile, also fell 1.3% compared to last year: from $4,042 to $3,989.
The sheep meat, For its part, it had a 12.4% increase in its average income, with 4,152 dollars per ton compared to 3,693 dollars in 2023.
Regarding the markets, China was ranked first in Uruguayan meat destinations, with 79.2 million dollars placed in the Asian giant and representing 39% of meat exports despite having presented a new drop in demand, this time of 15 .7%. The North American blocUnited States Mexico and Canada- had a better 28.8% to place in second place, with $52.6 million and a 26% share.
They follow the European Union —12% of placements for a total of 23.7 million dollars and an improvement of 47.9% compared to last year—; he Mercosur —8%, which meant 15.1 million dollars and an increase of 32.7%—; and the Russian Federation, destination of 3% of exports and explanation of 6.6 million dollars—an increase of 230.4%. Israel (+83.4%) and Japan (-6.3%) each received 2% of Uruguayan export meat.
Source: Ambito
