Paraguay Leads Meat Export Growth in the Mercosur Bloc

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With a historic 29.6% increase in slaughter and a 21% rise in exports, Paraguay has positioned itself as the fastest-growing country in the Mercosur meat sector.

Paraguay reached record-breaking levels in beef cattle processing during the first two months of 2025. Local meatpacking plants processed approximately 422,000 head of cattle between January and February, marking a 29.6% increase compared to the same period in 2024, which was already a record year for the country’s meat production. This growth becomes even more significant when compared to the overall trend in Mercosur, where the bloc saw a slight contraction of 0.5% in slaughter activity, processing a total of 7.5 million head of cattle. Paraguay’s performance even surpassed Uruguay in...

Data from Faxcarne reveals a mixed outlook across the Mercosur meat industry. While Paraguay posted a sharp increase, Brazil — the bloc’s leading producer — recorded a 2% decline in slaughter, processing 4.5 million head of cattle. Argentina saw a 2.2% drop, with 2.1 million animals processed. Only Uruguay, aside from Paraguay, showed a positive trend, with a moderate 2.8% increase, totaling 409,000 head. These variations stem from several country-specific factors, including climate conditions, livestock cycles, sector policies, and international market access. The trend illustrates...

In terms of exports, Mercosur as a whole experienced a 3% decline in volume during the first two months of 2025, with a total of 588,000 tons shipped abroad. This overall reduction was heavily influenced by Argentina’s sharp 31% drop in exports, from 130,900 to 90,000 tons. In contrast, Brazil and Uruguay each saw a modest 3% increase. Paraguay stood out with a significant 21% rise in exports, reaching 60,651 tons. This growth positioned the country as the top exporter in terms of percentage increase within the bloc, although it still trails Uruguay’s 66,392 tons in absolute terms. The...