although it rises less than other products, the takeoff of beef consumption is slow / archive
Despite the fact that last year the price of meat remained below inflation, consumption has not been able to recover. In butcher shops in the Region, they assured that prices remained “flat” until about ten days ago, when some adjustments began to be made and it is expected that increases of 20 pesos per kilo will be applied next week.
The butcher Juan Carlos Marchán was one of the merchants who recognized that meat is increasing little by little.
“Ten days ago it started with increases and my supplier told me that when the one I have runs out, the next one will arrive to apply 20 more pesos per kilo,” said the butcher.
Marchán was expectant in relation to the consequences of the drought in the cattle sector.
“The drought is hitting, let’s wait and see what happens these days, I still have very cheap prices,” he added.
For the director of a slaughterhouse in the area, the international price of beef is low both in the European Union market and in the Chinese volume market.
“We believe that we are at a floor and the situation will improve when the level of energy prices in the European Union is clarified, after the Chinese New Year, which is next week, and the release of restrictions in China,” said the CEO. .
Regarding the impact of the drought, he indicated that it causes a greater supply of animals because there is a lack of food in the fields.
“At the same time, this greater supply will cause shortages when it rains or weather conditions change,” he added.
Regarding prices, the businessman maintained that cattle and, therefore, meat prices are far behind, around 30 percent with respect to inflation.
The butcher Mariano Colaianni was another of the merchants who thought that the prices of beef were low in relation to other products in the basic basket.
“It is true that consumption is slow, but little by little it will begin to consume more,” he added.
According to the data handled in the sector, in 1980 the Argentine consumption of beef in kilograms per inhabitant was at an annual average of 86.4. At present, the average consumption per inhabitant is 47.5 kilos.
While the consumption of beef decreased, that of chicken and pork increased.
Price survey
According to a survey by the Institute for the Promotion of Argentine Beef, the prices of the different cuts of beef did not register changes last December compared to the previous month.
The average prices of beef for the twelfth month of the current year compared to the same month of the previous year were 42.4 percent higher. Less than half of general inflation, which was close to 95%.
The price of fresh chicken showed increases of 3.3 percent last month compared to November. Compared with the values of December 2021, chicken increased its price by 97.9 percent.
For its part, the price of pork breast showed increases of 1.2 percent in relation to the previous month. And with respect to the values of December 2021, increases of 61.4 percent.
After the holidays, meat prices began to move little by little
The prices of beef had a drop of 1.4 percent in December 2022, compared to November, at points of sale that serve neighborhoods with a high socioeconomic level. In the points of sale that sell in the middle socioeconomic level, prices increased by 1.7 percent; while in those who serve the low socioeconomic level, prices increased by 0.3 percent.
Regarding the different categories, steer meat showed a 1.5 percent drop in prices; steer meat showed increases of 2.4 percent; while beef and veal increased by 1.8 percent compared to November 2022. On average, the price of the light retail category fell 0.2 percent compared to the price of the previous month .
