Recent trends in the Argentine beef cattle situation

Abstract

With the fall of wool prices in New Zealand, and subsequent devaluation of the New Zealand dollar, the level of beef prices to farmers has improved considerably relative to wool and sheep meat prices. If the New Zealand farmer produces greater quantities of beef in the future, will he be able to sell it on world markets? At present, quotas on imports into the United States are full, and alternative markets are being explored. Our main competitors in England and Europe are Australia and the Argentine. Can these countries supply the import needs of Europe or is there a place for New Zealand? This paper examines the future export supply position for the Argentine. It is concluded that great increases in beef supplies from this quarter cannot be expected in the next few years, although in the long run a restoration of internal stability in the Argentine could make a large difference to the world beef trading situation.