ANALYSIS: Rains and Larger Planted Area in Argentina Could Boost Corn Output in 2025/2026

On August 20, the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange (BAGE) reported that Argentina’s planted corn area for the 2025/2026 season could rise by 9.6% year-on-year to an estimated 7.8 million hectares.

Market participants attributed the increase to improved soil moisture following abundant rainfall, with sources noting that nearly all planted areas are rated in good/excellent condition. If realized, this would be Argentina’s second-largest corn area on record, after the 8.4 million hectares in 2023/2024...

China Extends Antidumping Investigation on Imported Beef to November 2025 

China’s antidumping investigation into imported beef will be extended until November 26, 2025, the latest announcement by China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) stated.  

Originally set to conclude in August, it will now be extended by three months “due to the large workload and complex case,” as per Announcement No. 38. 

The MOFCOM began the investigation on December 27, 2024, following a request from China’s Animal Agriculture Association and nine industry associations representing major beef-producing areas on behalf of the domestic beef sector...

Argentina’s Meatpacker Lequio Group Acquires Mattievich

Lequio, a large Argentinian meatpacker, has announced the acquisition of 80% the meatpacker Mattievich Group, which it hopes to finalize by the end of June. Both firms are already working in the merging of operations, Lequio said.

“We bought 80% of shares, not all. The livestock operations were excluded,” Leonardo Lequio told Argentinian media.

After the acquisition is complete, Lequio will have increased its slaughtering capacity to “over 4,000 cattle head per day,” the firm said.

Lequio will acquire at least six of Mattievich Group facilities across Argenitina...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #10

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #10."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #9

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #9."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #4

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #4."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text...

Argentina Allocates 2025 Beef Export Quotas to US

The Argentine government has announced the allocation of beef export quotas to the United States for 2025, distributing an approximate total of 19,123 MT among 23 meatpacking plants and 17 joint projects. The measure, formalized under Resolution 11/2025, covers boneless fresh (chilled or frozen) boneless beef cuts for export between January 1 and December 31.

The export quota is part of the 20,000 MT allocated by the United States to Argentina. The approximate remaining 876.246 MT are designated for the Free Availability Fund, which allows meatpacking plants and...

Argentina Eases Food Trade Restrictions Under New Decree

Argentina has implemented reforms to its food trade policies, removing regulatory hurdles for imports and exports. Decree 35/2025, published in the Official Gazette on Monday January 20, introduces changes to the Argentine Food Code (CAA) aimed at simplifying administrative procedures and promoting trade.

The decree eliminates duplicative inspections for imports from countries with high sanitary standards, such as the United States, the European Union, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Importers can now bring food products into Argentina by submitting a Sworn Declaration of Importation, without additional certifications from domestic authorities...

Impact of the EU-Mercosur Agreement on EU Beef Market

After 25 years of negotiations, the European Union (EU) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, reached a landmark free-trade and cooperation agreement on December 6, 2024. In 2023, EU agri-food exports to Mercosur totalled €3.2 billion, and the new EU-Mercosur Free-Trade Agreement aims to substantially increase these exports by removing high tariffs on key EU export products. The following article examines the potential impact of the deal on the beef market...