Overview
- At the Cañuelas market, light steers cleared above AR$5,000 per kilo live with a top lot at AR$5,170, while the novillito average reached AR$4,637, up about 11% from mid-January and roughly 50% since September.
- Jesús María’s February 9 auction saw invernada calves touch AR$7,000 per kilo live, with 1,155 head sold and novillitos of 300–350 kg at AR$4,780.
- Market leaders attribute the surge to a shortage of finished cattle linked to herd depletion from past policy interventions and export limits, producer exits, and recurrent droughts.
- Stronger pricing for heavier animals is encouraging retention and finishing, with a 500‑kg steer valued near AR$2.5 million versus about AR$1.5 million for a 300‑kg calf, which tightens near-term supply.
- Retail pass‑through is expected within one to two weeks, with January beef prices already up 4.9% month‑to‑month and 73.4% year‑over‑year, and operators warning of scarce supply at least through April–May.