Argentina beef consumption drops to 20‑year low, prompting shift to chicken and pork

Argentina's per‑capita beef consumption fell to 47.5 kg in May 2026, a 6.1 % year‑on‑year decline and the lowest level in two decades. The drop reflects an 11.1 % fall in apparent domestic consumption, driven by reduced purchasing power and a 57.9 % rise in beef prices over the past twelve months, well above inflation. Production also contracted 7.3 % year‑on‑year to 1.168 million tonnes, and slaughter activity reached its lowest level for the January‑May period in ten years.

Exports remained resilient, rising 5.1 % to about 312 200 tonnes, buoyed by strong U.S. demand that grew 25 % month‑on‑month and tripled year‑on‑year, accounting for roughly 29 % of export revenue. Sales to China fell sharply, down 35.8 % month‑on‑month and 32 % year‑on‑year, now representing about 36 % of revenue. The shift in consumer preferences is evident as chicken consumption approaches 47 kg per capita and pork reaches 24‑25 kg, prompting some Santa Fe slaughterhouses to diversify into pork processing to utilise idle capacity.