Uruguay: Beef prices have increased by 9 to 12% in the Chinese market this week.

The international meat market in China is experiencing a surge in prices, with an increase this week of between $400 and $500 per ton, a rise of 9-12% depending on the cut. This trend is partly due to the perception in China that meat imports from the US may be reduced due to tariff issues. As a result, countries like Argentina and Uruguay, which are currently the only South American nations authorized to export bone-in meat to China, are poised to benefit. However, China is also investigating the impact of imported meat on its local production, which could lead to higher tariffs on imported meat to protect local producers. This could potentially increase the price of all imported meat.

The international meat market in China "is doing very well in terms of prices, with an upward trend. This week we saw a big jump, which wasn't surprising but was very marked. The Chinese perception is that there won't be any meat from the United States due to the tariff issue, and that's an opportunity to capture that high-value niche," said Fausto Brighenti, a meat trader currently in China. In an interview with Valor Agregado on Carve radio, Brighenti added that there is also an opportunity for bone-in and bone-in meat, as the United States was a major supplier. In South America, the only two countries authorized to sell bone-in meat to China are Argentina and Uruguay. "Demand for meat in the Chinese market has been growing steadily: that's the good news. Beef, and quality beef, is increasingly becoming part of the Chinese diet, and that's where the opportunity lies," he emphasized. He also highlighted that Brazil isn't competing with quality beef: "The opportunity is very ...