Argentina completes 2025‑26 Hilton beef quota, announces 2026‑27 allocations

The Argentine Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that the Hilton beef quota for the 2025‑26 cycle was fully utilized, exporting 29,388.86 tons of boneless beef to the European Union and a total of 29,499 tons when including shipments to the United Kingdom. The shipments generated roughly US$406 million in FOB value, a 16 % increase over the previous cycle, with average prices reaching US$20,000 per ton for rump & loin cuts.

Resolution 105/2026, published on 1 July 2026, allocated the 2026‑27 Hilton quota of 29,333.175 tons to 81 Argentine companies, adding 15 new participants. Of the total, 26,450.101 tons were assigned to industrial exporters and 2,938.899 tons to joint‑producer projects. Ten firms—Swift Argentina, Frigorífico Rioplatense, Arre Beef, Frigorífico Gorina, Quickfood, Azul Natural Beef, SA Import & Export de la Patagonia, Coto Cicsa, Compañía Bernal and Frimsa—concentrated 67 % of the industry share. In La Pampa, five frigoríficos received specific allocations ranging from 1235.717 tons (La Anónima) to 50 tons (Pilotti).

The quota, which provides a 20 % preferential tariff for high‑quality beef, represents 44 % of the EU’s global Hilton allocation. Argentina’s primary markets remain Germany and the Netherlands, followed by Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal. To date, about 7 % of the new quota has been executed through advance‑payment mechanisms at an average price of US$19 000 per ton.