The price of slaughter cattle strengthened across the region. The World Beef Report (WBR) Mercosur Steer Index gained 8 cents during the week to US$/kg 4.89 carcass.
After losing 10 cents the previous week, the average finished male price across Brazil’s exporting states recovered those same 10 cents and reached US$/kg 4.42 carcass. While the depreciation of the Brazilian real weighed on prices last week, the opposite occurred this week as the US dollar fell nearly 2%, combined with a 0.5% increase in cattle prices measured in reais.
In Argentina, after two consecutive weeks of sharp declines, export steer prices gained around AR$ 100 during the week, while the exchange rate also strengthened with the US dollar declining 1%. As a result, the special export steer gained 13 cents to US$/kg 5.87 carcass.
In Uruguay, prices appear to be stabilizing. However, a more comfortable procurement position for processors resulted in a slight correction of 2 cents in the special export steer price, which closed at US$/kg 5.58 carcass.
Finally, in Paraguay, prices for slaughter-ready common males appear to have reached a ceiling, holding steady at US$/kg 5.00 carcass, unchanged from the previous week.
