Luxury barbecue: report explains why meat is relentless and reveals who is behind it

The report examines the entire value chain, from production to marketing, and exposes structural flaws that directly impact the final price. One of the central findings is the high concentration of the market. According to data from SENACSA, just 1.2% of ranchers account for 60% of the cattle herd, while the remaining 98.8% own only 40%. In addition, on average, 70% of industrial slaughter is concentrated in three slaughterhouses, configuring an oligopsony in the purchase of cattle and an oligopoly in the sale to consumers. The study also warns that the price increase is not an exclusive phenomenon of Paraguay. Globally, meat is registering increases driven by the higher demand from Asian markets and the drop in production in the United States, which in 2025 was displaced by Brazil as the leading global producer. Regarding the formation of prices, CONACOM points out that the international meat price is the variable that most influences the value paid by the Paraguayan consumer. ...