Paraguay’s sheepmeat sector reached a new milestone in its international market development with its first official sheepmeat export to the United Arab Emirates. The shipment was carried out by Frigorífico Victoria and consisted of approximately 12 tons of product that had been sold in February but whose dispatch was delayed due to logistical disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Beyond the symbolic significance of the first shipment, the main development is that the business has already generated follow-up demand. According to Valor Agro, the processor has secured a second contract with Emirati buyers, creating the need to assemble enough supply for another container over the coming weeks.
To fulfill this demand, the industry will seek lambs weighing between 8 and 22 kg carcass weight, with a maximum of four permanent teeth. Approximately 800 head will be required for the next shipment, with the volume expected to be gathered within about a month.
The operation is viewed as a positive signal for Paraguay’s sheep sector, which is seeking to diversify export markets and increase the role of alternative proteins within the country’s export portfolio. It also confirms international buyer interest in Paraguayan sheepmeat and opens the possibility of establishing a more stable trade flow to high-value markets.
