Uruguay’s live cattle exports fall 12.7%

Uruguay’s live cattle exports declined by 12.7% year over year in January–September 2026 to 254.1 thsd head. According to Uruguay’s National Meat Institute (INAC), the main driver of the decline was reduced purchases by Turkey, which remains the largest importer of Uruguayan live cattle. In September, exports totaled around 31 thsd head, marking the third consecutive month of year-on-year declines.

The sharpest reduction was recorded in shipments to Turkey. During the first nine months of 2026, Uruguay exported 152.3 thsd head of cattle to Turkey, compared with 218.9 thsd head a year earlier. Shipments therefore fell by 30%, or 66.6 thsd head. Turkey’s share of Uruguay’s total live cattle exports declined from 75% to 60%, although the country remains the leading destination.

Young cattle dominated the export structure. Approximately 78% of exported animals were males, while females accounted for the remaining 22%. Meanwhile, 89% of cattle shipped abroad were under two years old. The highest monthly export volume in 2026 was recorded in June, when Uruguay shipped around 75 thsd head, after which trade activity began to weaken.

Export activity remained subdued in October. According to customs data, only two live cattle export applications were registered: one for 3,150 head to Israel and another for 2,100 tons to Turkey. The combined volume of the proposed shipments was estimated at more than 7.5 thsd animals. However, these figures represent export applications rather than necessarily completed shipments, indicating continued weakness in market activity.

Uruguay exported approximately 368 thsd head of live cattle in 2025, but matching that result in 2026 appears unlikely. To reach last year’s total, the country would need to export another 114 thsd head in the fourth quarter, averaging 38 thsd head per month. Given the weak activity recorded in October, most of the remaining shipments would need to take place in November and December, requiring exports of around 51 thsd head per month to match last year’s performance.

Tags: cattle, Uruguay