MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina unable to complete EU beef Hilton quota

For the first time in almost thirty years Argentina was unable to fulfill its high priced special cuts Hilton quota of beef for the European Union in the fiscal year which ended June 30.

According to the Buenos Aires press quoting the Office of Agriculture Trade Control, ONCCA, the 30.000 tons quota was almost 2.000 tons short which in money value is equivalent to almost 40 million US dollars. Meat industry sources blame the ongoing farmers stand off with the Argentine government, and road blocks, which impeded sufficient livestock from reaching the abattoirs on time. However they also accuse the ONCCA office and Domestic Trade Secretary Guillermo Moreno, the man in charge of containing price inflation in Argentina, because they did not deliver on time the export licences, even before the conflict started last March. When the licenced abattoirs are running short of time or livestock they pass on their remaining quota to other establishments but this was only possible, because of Mr. Moreno and other government offices, a week before the June 30 deadline. Even so an estimated additional 300 tons, at an average price of 20.000 US dollars the ton helped to cut the difference. Apparently Argentina is in the process of requesting from the European Commission a time extension for the almost 2.000 undelivered tons or have them added to the next fiscal year which begun July first. However Buenos Aires press sources point out that optimism is limited since not so long ago and to comply with the enlarged European Union and its latest incorporations, an additional 1.000 tons quota was awarded to Argentina which have yet to be implemented and distributed among local abattoirs. The contract remains "parked" in the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs.