BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) — Argentina could reclaim a strong presence on dining tables worldwide by exporting up to twice as much beef in the next two years.
Industry groups say the potential is there now that the country’s new centre-right government has cut export taxes and quotas on the red meat.
Exports of world-famous Argentine steaks have tumbled, largely because of the trade controls imposed by the former left-leaning government, which were designed to keep local butchers well supplied and suppress prices.
Argentina was the world’s third biggest beef exporter a decade ago with annual shipments of 771,000 tonnes.
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Argentina’s Meat Industry and Trade Chamber (Ciccra) estimated that beef exports will increase to 300,000 tonnes in 2017 from 200,000 tonnes last year, while the Aacrea association of meat producers expected 350,000 tonnes. Agriculture consultancy group Tonelli & Associates put the figure at 400,000 tons.
“Argentina is returning to the market,” said Mario Ravettino, president of the Consortium of Meat Exporters ABC.
The country lifted restrictions on beef in the second week of January, a month after president Mauricio Macri took office on a platform to liberalize the spluttering economy.
Agriculture secretary Ricardo Negri said Argentina hoped to start shipping beef to the United States and Canada after both lifted their own restrictions on Argentine beef.
