Global market is experiencing an acute shortage of beef

Ponti, economist and analyst at AZ Group, explained in an interview with Grupo Agro del Sur. Ponti noted that the United States maintains a structural deficit in beef, importing over 2 million tons compared to exports of approximately 1.2 million tons. “The country consumes 13 million tons of slaughter weight per year, so even with the expansion of tariff quotas, the impact is minimal domestically, but quite noticeable for exporters in the region,” he noted. Argentina and other Mercosur countries are seeking to expand their 20,000-ton quota through a preferential tariff, capitalizing on good bilateral relations and the US need for increased supplies. However, Ponti emphasized that the market will not change significantly: “The United States is not flooded with imported meat. Argentina will not replace Brazil, and domestic prices will not fall as a result.” The price differential remains a strong incentive: while in the US, the price of a steer reached $8 on the fourth scale, in ...