La carne bovina uruguaya: Acceso a mercados y desempeño exportador, 1980-2015

During the last decades, Uruguayan beef has improved the markets access, opening the door to higher value segments. The aim of this study is to identify the main changes in relation to exported products, importing markets and conditions for market access. The study is carried out based on statistical yearbooks of Instituto Nacional de Carnes (INAC) and information provided by Uruguayan customs, according to MERCOSUR Common Nomenclature (NCM) at the 10-digit level. The analysis goes from 1980 to 2015. According to the results of our research, an increase in the specificity of the exported beef products was found, associated with a greater diversification of markets. Three sub-periods are identified, associated with new destinations and changes in market access conditions. During the first sub period studied (1980-93), there were no significant changes in export performance. Between 1994 and 2005, the second sub-period, exports tripled, both in volume and value. During the third sub-period (2006-2015), the trend in volume reversed, and the substantial jump occurred in value.