MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguay beef exports in first quarter total 98.300 tons and 265 million USD

Russia took twice more than in the same period last year

During the first quarter of this year Uruguay beef exports to Russia reached 25.800 tons, which is almost twice more than during the same period of last year.

In value terms exports has increased from about 19 million USD in the first quarter of 2009 to nearly 51 USD million in the first quarter of 2010.

In comparison, the Uruguayan beef exports to the EU in the first quarter of this year fell to about 22.000 tons, which is 10% less than a year ago. Despite this decrease, the EU countries remained extremely lucrative market for the Uruguayan exporters. The value of beef exports to these countries amounted to 86.5 million USD.

In North America, Canada took over the role of the United States as the main buyer of beef from Uruguay. Exports to that country increased by 34% to 10.500 tons, while to the United States declined to 6.400 tons, which is about 44% less than a year ago.

In addition to growth in exports to Russia and Canada, larger quantities of Uruguayan beef were sold to Israel and Chile. As a result, in the first quarter of 2010 Uruguay exported a total of 98.300 tons of beef, which is 10% more than a year ago.

The value of exports amounted to 265 million USD compared to 219 million USD in January-March 2009.