Lower Uruguayan meat exports, but better prices

Montevideo, May 9 (Prensa Latina) Uruguayan beef exports have reached US$853.1 million this year despite lower volumes compared to the same period last year and better prices currently prevailing in the international market.

May 9, 2026
19:11

So far in 2016, beef exports total 154,921 tons, with an average export revenue of US$5,506 per ton.

This figure corresponds to a 16.1 percent year-on-year increase in the average world price.

Breaking down by market, the North American bloc of the United States, Canada, and Mexico led as the destination for Uruguayan beef, with 65,304 tons accumulated so far this year, although this represents an 11.3 percent year-on-year decrease.

The United States leads the demand, accounting for almost all of the exports to North America.

Exports totaled 60,778 tons, a 12.2 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.

China remained the second largest destination, with 53,714 tons exported, representing a 3.9 percent year-on-year decline.

The European Union (EU) saw the largest drop, with a 29.9 percent decrease and 13,611 tons exported.

Although the Mercosur-EU agreement provisionally entered into force on May 1, the benefits for meat exports will not be realized until June.

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