Argentina's Industry Output Falls and Beef Market Slows in May

An assessment by the Argentine Industrial Union shows manufacturing output fell almost 5% year‑on‑year in May and 0.8% compared with April. The decline was broad‑based, with textiles, footwear and machinery posting the steepest drops, while construction and automotive activity showed modest gains. Energy consumption by large industrial users slipped 2.1% and exports to Brazil fell 7.6%, underscoring weak domestic demand and competitive pressure from imports.

In the livestock sector, the Rosario Beef Market report indicates a provisional 11% reduction in cattle slaughter for the first five months of the year versus the same period in 2025. Although export shipments are up about 10% year‑on‑year, domestic supply has contracted roughly 12% and retail beef prices have remained flat despite inflation. Per‑capita beef consumption fell 5% to below 48 kg per year, while poultry and pork intake held steady or rose, reflecting shifting consumer preferences amid tighter budgets.