Uruguay beef exports turn around in June 2016

Uruguayan beef imports into USA are down 30%, year to date, according to USDA at 18,178 tonnes. This is at least partially due to rejection issues earlier this year with USDA FSIS. Uruguay cattle slaughter was over 200,000 head in June 2016, 19% higher than the same month last year. Sheepmeat slaughter has been running well below 2015 in all months of 2016. Beef exports in June were the highest for the year. Beef export values were 9% down on last year in June 2016 and sheepmeat export values were almost 22% down. China accounted for 38% of meat exports, followed by the EU at 23% and USA at 14.4%. (up until July 2016). Average beef price in the latest week published was US$3,427 per tonne and sheepmeat US$4,496 per tonne. Beef values are running 10.5% lower than 2015 for the period to 16 July. Sheepmeat vales are running 9.3% lower than the first half of 2015.