Argentine beef, one of the country’s top export products, is being showcased at the second China International Import Expo (CIIE), which kicked off Tuesday in Shanghai, Xinhua reported.
As many as 20 national beef exporters are present at the expo through the Argentine Beef Promotion Institute (IPCVA).
“We are succeeding in getting the Chinese people to fall in love with Argentine beef, even though they didn’t know about it until just recently,” said Ulises Forte, president of the IPCVA.
“We have done a lot, but there is still a lot left to do,” he added.
The 350-square-meter “Argentine Beef” pavilion features a restaurant with a tasting menu, and a meeting room for networking or making deals.
Argentinian beef is considered among the best in the world — perhaps even the best, according to some gourmet aficionados.
“We are very enthusiastic about this fair, because unlike other markets where prices are low, values in China keep getting better,” said Jorge Torelli, vice president of the institute.
China is Argentina’s second-largest trade partner and its biggest export market for agricultural goods, the report said.
In 2018, Argentina’s beef exports to China increased a whopping 118% from 2017, generating US$862 million in revenue, according to the office of the Argentine presidency.
In the first seven months this year, Argentina exported US$868 million worth of beef to the Asian country, its main market for beef exports, according to the office.
Argentina’s Minister of Agro-Industry Luis Etchevehere traveled to Shanghai to visit his country’s booths, which were jointly sponsored by the Argentine International Trade and Investment Agency (AAICI) and the IPCVA, the ministry said.
A total of 155 countries and regions as well as 26 international organizations are attending the second CIIE, which is held on Nov. 5-10.
The exhibition area covers around 360,000 square meters. This year 64 countries will host country exhibitions and 3,893 companies are attending the business exhibitions.
Cattle ranchers in Argentina, which recently edged out Brazil as the leading exporter of beef to China, are hoping to build upon that status by winning Beijing’s approval for more meatpacking plants, industry officials said.
China is looking to diversify its protein supply, shaking up the global meat trade as African fever sweeps its pig herd.