BUENOS AIRES, Jan 3 (Reuters) – Argentina on Monday extended its suspension of exports of some beef cuts with little international demand until the end of 2023, a measure previously agreed with the sector.

“The measures contribute to generating a balance between the Argentine market and the export of meat products,” the government said of the decision.

“Export administration is established for some beef cuts that are preferred by the Argentine market and for mass consumption,” it added

Reporting by Hernán Nessi; writing by Peter Frontini / Reuters

A pocket-sized booklet full of facts, figures and trends for the Welsh lamb, beef and pork industries has been released.

The latest statistical guide to Wales’ red meat industry has been launched by industry levy body Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC).

The ‘Little Book of Meat Facts’ is an annual publication produced for anyone with an interest in the sector, covering the financial year from April 2020 to March 2021

The data provided covers everything from the size of agricultural holdings and market trends to trade data and consumer habits during this time period.

It follows an extraordinary year as a result of Brexit and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The guide shows that, despite all the disruptions and changes during 2020/2021, the industry remains key to the economy in Wales.

HCC’s data analyst, Glesni Phillips said: “We usually launch the Little Book of Meat Facts earlier in the year, but Covid restrictions meant that statistics weren’t readily available until later than usual.

“However, the end product contains all the usual information, from general statistics which provide an overview of Welsh agriculture, followed by specific sections on cattle, sheep and pigs.”

She added: “Here in Wales, it is the backbone of rural communities. Large numbers are employed in the sector and the contribution of red meat production to the economy is significant.”

 

 

by Farming UK

Just over three years ago China had its first outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF). At the start of 2019, there was a large surge in Chinese import demand for protein as the market looked to fill the gap left by the decline in pork production. International beef and pork markets both benefitted from this demand. Over the last 12 months, Chinese pork production has been recovering which has reduced demand for imported pork.

However, despite any recovery in the pig herd, there could now be a new protein gap emerging – at least in the short term.

Brazil supplies over a third of Chinese beef imports but Brazilian beef is currently suspended from the Chinese market. In the year to October Brazilian beef accounted for around 12% of Chinese red meat protein imports, and 10% if we also included poultry meat.

Any beef which had left Brazil before the ban was put in place, has been accepted by China. The embargo came in September, but due to freight times the effect is not yet showing in Chinese import data. We can however begin to see it in Brazilian export data. This shows that most of the beef has not found an alternative outlet, although Russia has just a three-year long embargo on Brazilian beef. The domestic market in Brazil is unlikely to offer an attractive home for this beef, as demand is weak amid an uncertain economic climate.

For the UK beef (and sheep meat) market there is likely to be little impact. The UK beef market is relatively isolated, as the UK and Europe have only limited interaction with the global market (although this is changing with increased UK access to the US). The sheep market is already tight and having reduced interaction with New Zealand at the moment.

 

 

By Rebecca Wright / AHDB

(Bloomberg) — Surrounded by some of England’s most fertile farmland, the small town of Boston will become Europe’s fake-meat capital next month with the opening of a giant factory making plant-based burgers and sausages.

Plant & Bean Ltd.’s new factory, the largest in Europe, will eventually churn out 55,000 tons a year of alternative protein products. That will provide the faux-meat industry with the scale to narrow the price and quality gap with conventional meat products, according to Chief Executive Officer Edwin Bark.

“We need to reduce the cost and that comes by increasing scale,” Bark said in an interview. “The gap with animal meat is really too big in key markets. You can completely understand that for families to buy plant-based products regularly is still a challenge.”

Alternative-protein demand has boomed in recent years as climate change and health concerns drive consumers to products like fake burgers or nuggets. The industry has attracted huge venture-capital investment, while food giants from McDonald’s Corp. to Nestle SA are rolling out their own product ranges. Still, sales remain a fraction of the $1.4 trillion global meat market.

 

 

by Agnieszka de Sousa, Bloomberg News