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Argentine beef exports to U.S. surge on higher tariff quota

Jul, 01, 2026 Posted by Gabriel Malheiros

Week 202627

Argentine beef exports to the United States have risen sharply, driven by an expansion of the U.S. duty-free import quota and stronger demand as the U.S. cattle herd remains at historically low levels.

The increase followed the Trump administration’s decision to expand Argentina’s annual preferential beef quota from 20,000 metric tons to 100,000 metric tons.

According to a report by PromArgentina’s Trade Intelligence Office based on official statistics, Argentine meat processors shipped about 11,000 metric tons of beef to the United States in May.

Argentine newspaper La Nación reported that the total matched the volume exported during the first eight months of 2025.

Export values also climbed significantly. Shipments to the United States reached $86 million in May, up 369% from a year earlier, more than four times the value recorded in the same month last year. The increase has made beef one of the leading contributors to Argentina’s export growth to the U.S. market.

A separate report by the Institutional Agricultural Report also showed strong growth in exports to the United States. Between January and May, Argentina exported 4,841 metric tons of fresh beef and 37,934 metric tons of frozen beef to the U.S. market.

During the same period in 2025, exports totaled 2,734 metric tons of fresh beef and 14,326 metric tons of frozen beef. Combined shipments increased from 17,060 metric tons to 42,775 metric tons, a 151% year-over-year increase.

Specific container throughput data supports that view. Data obtained by Datamar shows that Argentina’s beef exports to the United States rose 136.7%, with 2,599 TEUs recorded between January and April 2026. The chart below shows the monthly volumes:

Beef Exports to the United States | Argentina | Jan 2023 – Apr 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Former Argentine Undersecretary of Agricultural Markets and head of RIA Consultores Javier Preciado Patiño attributed the increase primarily to the expansion of the export quota.

“Trump did it,” he told UPI.

He said Argentina has already exported about 41,000 metric tons under the new 100,000-metric-ton duty-free quota and added that “once the statistics are updated, the total will exceed 50,000.”

Preciado Patiño said stronger U.S. demand also reflects a decline in the country’s cattle inventory.

“Trump said he wants to bring more beef from Argentina to help contain domestic prices. Beef prices are currently high worldwide and Argentina is receiving very favorable prices for cattle production,” he said.

Former Argentine Undersecretary of Livestock and Animal Production José María Romero told UPI that the United States has its smallest cattle herd in 75 years because of prolonged droughts that have reduced domestic production to historic lows.

“The United States is expected to import more than 2.5 million metric tons of beef this year. In that context, supplier countries have increased exports to that market,” Romero said.

He added that the expanded duty-free quota has created a new opportunity for Argentine exporters.

“Following the agreement, the sector found an opportunity to supply lean beef, most of it destined for processing, up to a volume equivalent to 4% of U.S. beef imports with zero tariffs,” he said.

While exports continue to grow, domestic beef consumption in Argentina has continued to decline and remains near its lowest level in decades.

According to Ámbito Financiero, citing data from the Chamber of the Meat Industry and Trade of Argentina, known as Ciccra, per capita beef consumption stood at 47.5 kilograms, or about 105 pounds, per person annually in May, the lowest level in the past 20 years.

Romero said the decline is even more significant when compared with earlier years. Consumption was 21% higher in 2001, 50% higher in 2007, 28% higher in 2011, 23% higher in 2023 and also exceeded current levels during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

“Domestic consumption is the lowest in our history,” Romero said.

Preciado Patiño said the trend reflects a structural shift in consumer habits and declining purchasing power.

“We are seeing a reconfiguration of consumption patterns. Beef is more expensive to produce and also more expensive for consumers. As a result, many families are choosing lower-cost proteins such as chicken and pork,” he said.

Source: UPI

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