Between January and September, external sales grew by 36.9% year-on-year and were close to surpassing the total revenue generated in 2025
China continued to be the main destination for Argentine beef, accounting for 68% of the exported volumes during September. Shipments included 30,000 tons of frozen boneless beef for USD 181.1 million and another 18,800 tons of bone-in beef and beef bones for USD 54.4 million.
Argentine beef exports reached USD 3,791.2 million between January and September 2026, representing a year-on-year growth of 36.9%, according to the latest report from the Argentine Beef Exporters Consortium (ABC). With these results, the sector is on track to surpass the USD 3,884 million recorded throughout 2025 and establish a new annual record.
During the first nine months of the year, Argentina exported 549,600 tons of chilled and frozen beef, 5.3% more than in the same period of 2025. The increase in revenue was considerably higher than that of the volumes traded, mainly driven by the improvement in international prices.
In September, shipments reached 71,900 tons with a value of USD 492.7 million, with a year-on-year increase of 18.7% in billing. The average export price was USD 6,855 per ton, 18.8% above the USD 5,772 recorded a year ago. However, compared to August, volumes decreased by 2.7% and revenues fell by 6.3%.
The president of the ABC Consortium, Mario Ravettino, highlighted the sector's performance and noted that, compared to September 2025, "the exported volumes are similar; while the value obtained has been 18.7% higher". International prices continue to recover from the lows recorded in mid-2024, when they hovered around USD 3,740 per ton.
Meanwhile, the United States ranked as the third most important destination in September, with 5,300 tons of frozen and chilled beef. Prices obtained in that market recorded year-on-year increases of 40% for chilled beef and 14% for frozen beef during the first nine months of the year.
The export performance also occurs in a context of greater trade opening driven by the government of Javier Milei. Under the bilateral agreement with the administration of Donald Trump, Argentina managed to expand its preferential access to the U.S. beef market by 80,000 tons, on top of the historical 20,000 tons. Additionally, in September, the government announced the reopening of the Japanese market to Argentine beef after 20 years.
With the USD 3,791.2 million accumulated until September, beef exports were just USD 92.8 million short of matching the revenue for all of 2025. The evolution of international prices and access to new markets will be crucial for the sector to close 2026 with a new record in revenues.
