Overview
- Between January and May 2026 Argentina slaughtered 4.94 million head of cattle, a 9.8% drop from 2025 and the lowest January–May total in ten years.
- Beef production fell 7.3% to 1.168 million tonnes carcass weight in the same period, reducing available supply for both domestic buyers and exporters.
- Apparent domestic consumption declined 11.1% year‑on‑year and per‑capita intake fell to about 47.5 kg per year, the weakest reading in roughly 20 years, as higher relative prices cut household purchasing power.
- Export volumes edged down in April to 37,360 tonnes while shipments to the United States rose sharply and sales to China contracted, but average export prices jumped about 40% to roughly US$8,290 per tonne, lifting revenue.
- Retail and feeder prices showed small monthly corrections in May yet remain high by historical standards, prompting consumers to substitute cheaper proteins such as pork and chicken and leaving herd recovery dependent on policy, investment or improved weather.