Paraguay Sets Sights on Doubling Beef Exports to the U.S. in 2025

After surpassing all expectations for beef exports to the United States in 2024, Paraguay has set a bold new goal for 2025: making the U.S. account for 12% to 15% of the country’s total beef exports.

“America has been phenomenal,” said José Carlos Martin, president of Paraguay’s National Animal Health and Quality Service (Senacsa), in an interview with Valor Agro.

Record-Breaking Year for U.S. Market

Between January and November 2024, the U.S. emerged as Paraguay’s third-largest beef export market by volume, with 25,309 tonnes shipped—behind only Chile and Taiwan. In terms of revenue, the U.S. ranked fourth, generating over $127 million, with Brazil taking the third spot.

Despite fierce competition, Paraguay’s performance in the U.S. market far exceeded expectations. The country shattered its original 2024 goal of exporting 10,000 tonnes, a projection set by the Paraguayan government.

“We exceeded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) forecast by four times and Senacsa’s own forecast by 2.5 times,” Martin confirmed to Valor Agro.

The chart below builds on DataLiner data, a Datamar-powered maritime intelligence tool. It shows Paraguay’s frozen bovine meat exports measured in TEUs across 2024.

Frozen Bovine Meat Exports | Paraguay | 2024 | TEUs

Fonte: DataLiner (clique aqui para solicitar uma demonstração)

Ambitious Plans for 2025

Looking ahead, Martin emphasized the vast potential of the U.S. market for Paraguayan beef. “The United States is a massive market, and for the volume we can offer, it continues to hold many surprises for us,” he said.

Martin revealed that the government, working closely with private sector stakeholders, is aiming to double beef exports to the U.S. by 2025, targeting 50,000 tonnes. This ambitious target would make the U.S. account for 12% to 15% of Paraguay’s total beef exports, further solidifying its role as a key market for the country.

Source: Valor Agro – Paraguay