According to a report by Bolivia's "La Verdad" on the 9th, the National Agricultural Health and Food Safety Service (Senasag) announced on the 8th that Bolivian beef has successfully entered the Egyptian market after obtaining the necessary permits.
Gonzalo Serrudo, head of Contracabol, stated that on May 20, the Santa Cruz Cattlemen's Federation (Fegasacruz), the Bolivian Cattlemen's Federation (Congabol), export companies, and the government signed an agreement aimed at reducing the price of beef per kilogram and increasing supply in the domestic market. However, the government "betrayed" the agreement by approving exports without guaranteeing stable domestic prices.
Serrudo emphasized that exports themselves are not a bad thing, but sustainability and supply guarantees must be ensured. He pointed out that in late August and early September, the price of beef per kilogram increased again, causing market prices to rise in tandem. Currently, slaughterhouses are offering prices for beef per kilogram that exceed 40 Bolivianos, with regional prices ranging between 45 and 48 Bolivianos.
Affected by the aforementioned price increases, domestic market meat prices have surpassed 50 Bolivianos per kilogram. In Santa Cruz, premium meats are selling for 60 to 64 Bolivianos, leading to consumer resistance.
In response, Serrudo warned that the industry is weakening due to declining sales, with housewives turning to more affordable alternatives, and many peers switching professions or moving to other countries.
Currently, meat prices continue to impact Bolivian families' budgets, as they watch essential items in their basic consumption basket gradually become increasingly unaffordable luxuries.
To ensure sufficient supply in the domestic market and avoid price surges, the government has imposed restrictions on the quantity of beef exports. The government's approved export quota for this year is 44,000 tons, of which 28,600 tons have been exported so far.
However, Javier Landívar, director of Fegasacruz, stated that after deducting domestic consumption, there are still over 100,000 tons of beef available for export. The first shipment of beef to Egypt could be realized within a month, much earlier than expected. Congabol had previously estimated that the first sale to the new market would take four months to finalize.
Currently, China and Russia are the main buyers of Bolivian beef. As of July this year, the total value of Bolivian beef exports reached 92.7 million dollars.