Argentinian beef exports keep growing despite tight market

Although supply remains weak, Argentine beef exports continue to rise significantly. Thanks to a strongly improving reputation, the popularity of Argentine beef is increasing. This is driving exports, particularly to the United States, where the market is even tighter.Market sources report that Argentine cattle prices are very high. Tight supply in the domestic market is the main reason for this. In its most recent report, the USDA states that Argentina’s cattle herd has barely grown since 2024, when it reached its lowest level in years.However, this is offset by a strong increase in demand for Argentine beef, as its reputation has improved considerably in recent years. Argentine beef is generally regarded, alongside Uruguayan beef, as among the finest available for import. As a result, Argentine beef exports are rising sharply.According to a recent USDA report, exports of Argentine beef are expected to increase by 3.8% in 2026, reaching 830,000 tonnes. This rise in exports is likely to come at the expense of domestic supply, as total production is forecast to decline from 3.14 million tonnes to 3.08 million tonnes.Domestic consumption is expected to fall by 2% to 2.34 million tonnes. In addition, the strong reputation of Argentine beef has enabled the country to diversify its export markets effectively. The latest USDA country report shows that the share of exports going to its main destination declined from between 63% and 70% to 56% in the first seven months of 2025.Growing importance of the United States The United States is becoming an increasingly important destination. For 2026, Donald Trump has increased the quota for Argentine beef by 80,000 tonnes, bringing the total to 100,000 tonnes. Exporters in Argentina indicate that they intend to make full use of this quota. This is driven by high beef prices in the United States.Despite these high prices, demand in the US remains strong. The popularity of beef has increased significantly due to the rise of high-protein diets. A subtrend within this movement is the growing number of influencers promoting beef as the ideal and healthiest source of protein. As this message aligns well with American eating habits, consumers are willing to pay very high prices for beef. It is expected that the entire quota will be utilised. Unlike in Europe, high prices in the United States have not yet led to demand destruction. The price of prime-quality beef is currently just below record levels at $394.10 per cwt ($8.69 per kilo), according to the latest USDA beef report. Argentina mainly exports forequarter cuts to the United States, according to traders. This is not surprising, given the popularity of minced beef as the most affordable beef product. US minced beef prices continue to rise — in February 2026, prices were 19.8% higher, reaching $6.74 per pound ($14.86 per kilo).