China Suspends Beef Imports from Meatpacking Facilities
China’s customs authorities have suspended beef imports from seven meatpacking facilities across Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Mongolia as of 3rd March 2025.
The affected companies include two Argentine exporters (Frigorífico Regional General Las Heras SA and Frio Dock SA), three Brazilian slaughterhouses (Frisa Frigorífico Rio Doce S/A, Bon-Mart Frigorífico Ltda, and JBS S/A), one Uruguayan facility (Frigorífico Sirsil SA), and a Mongolian supplier.
No official reason was provided, but the move follows a record 2.87 million metric tonnes of beef imports in 2024, which led to an oversupplied market and historically low domestic beef prices in China.
The suspensions come amid an ongoing investigation by China’s Ministry of Commerce into the surge of beef imports and their impact on local producers.
In Brazil, the suspensions are linked to non-compliance with Chinese registration requirements, and the affected companies are working on corrective measures. The Brazilian Association of Meat Exporters (Abiec) stated that the companies involved have been notified and are adopting corrective measures to meet Chinese health authority requirements.
Argentina’s Frigorífico Regional General Las Heras SA faced issues after failing to deliver 70 containers in November 2024 due to exchange rate problems and operational constraints. The company has been working to resolve these issues and fulfil contracts.
China, the world’s largest beef importer, relies heavily on Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay as key suppliers. The import surge has raised concerns about potential trade restrictions, with results from the investigation expected by the end of 2025.
This could affect major exporters, including Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and the United States, especially as China has already announced a 10% tariff on US beef starting 10th March 2025. The situation reflects Beijing’s efforts to stabilise its domestic market amid claims that excessive imports are harming Chinese cattle farmers.
Original story: MercoPress
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