Argentina Beef Consumption Falls to Its Lowest in Over Two Decades
Argentines now eat 46.3 kilos of beef a year, the least in more than two decades, after prices rose about 52%. Chicken has taken the lead, while lamb exports jumped 34%. The post Argentina Beef Consumption Falls to Its Lowest in Over Two Decades appeared first on The Rio Times .
Argentina's beef consumption has hit its lowest level in over two decades, falling to 46.3 kilos per person annually. This is a 9.4% decrease compared to the previous year, according to CICCRA, the country's meat industry chamber. The decline is primarily due to rising beef prices, which surged by 52% in July 2026 compared to July 2025.
Butcher shops and supermarkets have been pushing beef prices higher, contributing to the drop in household budgets. Chicken consumption has surpassed beef for the first time in Argentina's statistical record, with per capita consumption reaching 49-50 kilos annually. Pork consumption has also increased from about 6 kilos per person two decades ago to around 19 kilos today.
Despite the decline in beef consumption, total meat consumption remains strong, with Argentines still consuming plenty of protein overall. Argentina's cattle slaughter decreased by 9.8% year-on-year, with beef production falling by 6.8%. However, exports of beef have increased, with shipments reaching 487,200 tonnes carcass equivalent in the first half of 2026, up 8.8% compared to the same period last year.
Sheep meat exports also saw a 34% increase in volume during the first half of 2026, with earnings climbing by 46%.
Written by urgent.news from The Rio Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
