Beef prices stable in Guatemala as government pushes for Brazil imports

Guatemalan consumers are experiencing stable beef prices, with most cuts showing minimal variation since February, according to a recent survey. This stability persists even as the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food (Maga) actively pursues plans to diversify the national meat supply by importing beef from Brazil.

The government's initiative to explore Brazilian imports began earlier this year following a noticeable price increase. A survey conducted on June 26 revealed that ground beef ranges from Q26.25 to Q42 per pound, a slight shift from February's Q27 to Q37.97. Similarly, steak prices are between Q38.25 and Q38.75, compared to Q37.98 to Q41.25 previously. Rib prices have seen a minor increase, while bolovique shows the most significant variation, selling between Q36 and Q48.38 per pound.

As part of this effort to broaden supply, Guatemala and Brazil recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance agricultural cooperation. The agreement was formalized by Guatemala's Minister of Agriculture, María Fernanda Rivera, and Brazil's Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Cleber Oliveira Soares, during the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Maga confirmed that the process for importing Brazilian beef is ongoing, with several Guatemalan businesses expressing interest. The ministry is currently working on the sanitary certification of Brazilian export establishments, a crucial step before the product can enter the Guatemalan market. Additionally, slaughterhouses must meet Guatemala's import requirements and ensure product availability. Despite these advancements, Maga has not provided an estimated timeline for when Brazilian beef will be available to consumers, noting that commercial negotiations are primarily handled by the private sector.