Overview
- Retail beef prices rose 8.2% in November and are up 72.8% year to date, while INDEC reported 2.5% monthly inflation with Food leading the increase due largely to meat.
- Live-cattle costs jumped sharply, with CICCRA reporting the average kilo vivo in Cañuelas up 12.8% in November to $3,334.5, reflecting scarce stock, record calf prices and retention of lighter animals.
- Slaughter fell to 1.047 million head in November, down 9.2% year on year, as frigoríficos faced margin pressure and reduced throughput under high input costs.
- Export volumes declined to about 64,477 tonnes in November (−5.4% month on month), yet January–November beef exports generated a record US$3.531 billion on higher FOB prices.
- China accounted for roughly 72% of November shipments and over 90% of the monthly volume drop, while beef imports reached 1,483 tonnes in November (up 86% from October) and broader agroindustrial exports totaled US$46.456 billion through November (+8.8%).