Paraguay secures Turkish market access for eight beef processors

Paraguay has successfully opened the Turkish market to eight beef processing plants following seven years of negotiations and sanitary evaluations. After an audit conducted by Turkish authorities in early August, which inspected 11 facilities, eight establishments were selected for export eligibility: Frigomerc SA, Matadero Frigorífico San Antonio, Guaraní SACI, Frigochaco, Los Lazos, Victoria, Belén, and Frigorífico Concepción SA.

Following the sanitary approval, the Turkish state-owned Et ve Süt Kurumu (ESK) has formally requested to advance commercial contact with these approved plants to begin the supply process. Turkey has expressed initial interest in acquiring up to 300 tons of boneless beef as a trial purchase.

A critical factor for the success of these exports is the negotiation of preferential tariff conditions. Turkey currently maintains high general tariffs on beef imports, with rates for chilled products reaching approximately 150% to 180% and frozen meat exceeding 200%. Establishing competitive tariff treatment is seen as essential for Paraguayan exporters to enter the market effectively.