MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Record Argentine mutton exports in 2004

Argentine mutton and lamb exports in 2004 were the highest in the last nine years reaching 15 million US dollars, according to data from the country's National Food Service, SENASA.

Last year shipments totalled 6,163 tons equivalent to 15,676,000 US dollars, well above the 4,737 tons and 9,076,000 US dollars of 2003.

But in spite of the sustained growth of mutton and lamb exports, Argentina is still short of the European Union quota, dating back 20 years and fixed at 23,000 tons annually.

With the growing fear in Europe with mad cow disease, consumers have turned significantly to mutton and lamb which is experiencing a sustained demand increase.

However, Argentine wool farmers complain that they can't take full advantage of the EU market potential because they are still suffering the consequences of the devastating nineties decade which saw the Argentine flock drop to less than half.

Spain was Argentina's main market with 2,764 tons totalling 7,395,000 US dollars, followed by Britain with 863 tons and 2,093,000 US dollars. Smaller volumes of lamb and mutton were exported to Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, and Greece.