Argentina rapidly expands beef exports to the US

Argentina has sharply increased its beef exports to the United States, marking a significant milestone for the country’s livestock sector. According to Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, Argentina shipped 11,000 tonnes of beef to the U.S. in a single month — a volume equivalent to exports recorded over the first eight months of 2025. This surge reflects the impact of a recent bilateral trade arrangement that expanded Argentina’s duty-free quota for beef exports to the U.S. to 100,000 tonnes per year.

Despite the strong growth in the U.S. market, China remains Argentina’s dominant beef buyer, accounting for 55–70% of total shipments even amid tariff pressures and quota adjustments. For 2026, Argentina’s annual export quota stands at around 510,000 tonnes, with industry participants describing it as broadly neutral for trade flows.

At the same time, rising export demand is tightening domestic supply. The Rosario Board of Trade estimates a decline in cattle slaughter of around 11% in the first five months of the year, while export volumes increased by roughly 10%, reducing availability on the home market by about 12% year-on-year. However, retail beef prices have remained relatively stable since March, showing no significant upward pressure despite the tightening supply.

Analysts note that the expansion of export-oriented production is becoming a key structural feature of Argentina’s beef sector. The evolution of quotas, tariff regimes, and demand from both the U.S. and China will remain critical factors shaping market dynamics in the coming months, alongside the balance between export growth and domestic food supply.

Tags: Beef cattle, USA, Argentina