BUENOS AIRES: China has become Argentina’s main destination for frozen beef exports, with sales to the country up 248% since last year. Meanwhile, a Chinese inspection to open Irish exports has yet to take place.
Argentina exported 22,135 tonnes of fresh beef to China between January and June 2015, resulting in Chile, formerly Argentina’s largest market, being relegated to second place.
At 12,196 tonnes, Chile received just over half of the amount exported by Argentina to China within that period.
Argentina’s third largest market so far this year is Israel, up 26% on last year, followed by Russia, down 28%, and Germany, down 9%.
Overall, beef exports from Argentina to non-Hilton (High Quality Beef) quota countries were up 34% on last year, while exports to Hilton (EU) countries remained the same on last year.
Agreement
Argentina’s offensive in increasing beef exports to China has been helped by an addendum to the 2010 Beef Protocol. The addendum was signed by an Argentine official mission that travelled to China to treat the case of vesicular stomatitis (VSV).
With the addendum valid since 23 July, uncertainties on Argentina’s beef exports to China has now been lifted, according to Agriculture Minister Carlos Casamiquela.
Exports from Ireland
While Argentina powers ahead with exports into China, Ireland has yet to see any exports to the country, despite having the ban on its beef exports to the country lifted in February this year.
Back in March, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney told the Irish Farmers Journal that he expected Irish beef to be in China by the autumn.
However, he added that this was dependent on Chinese inspectors coming to Ireland to approve individual beef plants.
Speaking on Wednesday to the Irish Farmers Journal, Kevin Kinsella, livestock vice-chairman of the Irish Farmers Association, said no plants have been approved as China has yet to send a technical inspection delegation into Ireland.
“This is what has to happen next, but it is not clear exactly when this will take place,” he said.
Moreover, discussions at the latest beef forum, held on Tuesday 21 July, showed that there is no immediate prospect of access to China, despite the lifting of the BSE ban.
Irish Farmers Journal market specialist Phelim O’Neill wrote that this lack of progress “demonstrates that the situation on the ground does not match the regular upbeat press comments from the Minister”.
