Overview
- Retail beef rose 3.3% in October and is up about 61.8% year over year, far above overall inflation, with asado leading October’s gains at 8.2%.
- Wholesale cattle prices accelerated, with novillito up 4.4% in October and 11.4% in the first ten days of November, and top live‑weight trades at Cañuelas reaching about $4,200 per kilo.
- In the past two weeks, retail prices increased a further 8% to 12%—and more than 15% for some popular cuts—while industry leaders say sales have held firm.
- Analysts cite a smaller herd after drought and floods, persistent domestic demand, and exporter competition as the key forces sustaining higher prices into the holidays.
- As a partial check on costs, Brazilian meat is entering Mendoza at roughly 20% lower prices, with initial containers from Minerva/Swift arriving as local shops report about a 7% price update.