Uruguay completed the first shipment of equine meat frozen boneless China and thus made progress in opening a new market to the Asian giant, within the framework of the strategic alliance signed last year between both countries.
Exports started from Clay refrigerator, audited at the end of 2023 by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, being the first to obtain the qualification to market the product to Asian territory.
The departure of the first shipment was supervised by the Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Fernando Mattos, who highlighted the importance of the event by pointing out that “it marks a milestone for our country in the opening of new markets to China”.
“Very important commercial perspectives are opening up through this shipment,” he warned. Mattos and highlighted that the plant “has been modernized through the incorporation of new technology, which allows us to comply with all the requirements demanded by the government headed by Xi Jinping.
After the tour of the refrigerator, in which the director of the MGAP International Affairs Unit also participated, Adriana Lupinacci Olaso; and his counterpart from the Animal Industry Division, Pablo Nadal, the Chinese ambassador in Uruguay, Huang Yazhong, He highlighted that “the results began to be seen” of the president’s visits to the Asian giant. Luis Lacalle Pou and Mattos himself.
A step forward with China, at a time when sales are falling
The departure of the shipment is good news for the government, in times where the commercial relationship with China is not going through its best moment and explains a good part of the fall in exports during the first quarter of 2024.
In March, the Asian giant remained second as an export destination, behind Brazil, with sales of 87 million dollars and representing 12% of the total. However, this is a year-on-year decline of 50% that is being felt in the balance of trade.
This decrease was explained by the 53% reduction in loan placements. beef, as well as the 24% drop in meat byproducts. In parallel, there was a 71% drop in exports of woods and its products.
Given this panorama, finalize the first shipment of equine meat to Chinese territory, along with the incipient sale of sorghum towards that country, represent two axes on which the government can rely to shore up the bilateral relationship.
Source: Ambito
