MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguay becomes world's eight exporter of beef; Argentina drops to position 11

The Paraguayan Rural Association plans to double cattle slaughtering by 2020

Paraguay has moved to eighth world exporter of beef and is planning to double the number of cattle slaughtered by 2020, according to the country's Rural Association, ARP. Last year 2.2million head of cattle were slaughtered in Paraguay, and 73% of the beef was exported while the rest was domestic consumption.

 This sorted out at 1.6 million slaughtered for export, totaling 192.000 tons of beef or 288.000 tons with carcass, according to Carlos Pedretti, head of the stats office from the Paraguayan Rural Association.

According to the same source, this year Paraguayan abattoirs are expected to slaughter 4.2 million head of cattle, of which 3.1 million will be shipped overseas as beef exports, while 1.1 million will supply the home market.

At this rate the cattle farmers expect Paraguay to be exporting the equivalent of 4 billion dollars in beef by 2020. Paraguay's export markets are mainly Chile, Russia and Brazil.

US Department of Agriculture stats show that Brazil remains the leading beef exporter with over 2million tons, followed closely by India with 1.9m; Australia, 1.56m; New Zealand 535.000 tons; Uruguay, 385.000 tons; Canada, 355.000 and Paraguay, 350.000 tons.

Argentina not so many years ago a reference of the world's beef market only figures with 200.000 tons of exports in position 11, only just ahead of Mexico with 180.000 tons.

India on the other hand has emerged as a world power having trebled exports in five years, and thus taking control of approximately 20% of the global market.