Cattle slaughter at Paraguay's export plants reached its highest monthly level of the year in June, although it remained below year-ago levels.
Senacsa reported that 172,532 head of cattle were processed at export plants last month, up 29,000 from May but 26,000 fewer than in the same month last year. First-half slaughter totaled 889,875 head, down 287,000 head (-24.4%) year-on-year and the lowest first-half figure since 2019.
The relatively limited cattle supply, together with the near standstill in operations at the Concepción group, explains the decline. In June, the Concepción group processed just 2,401 head, down 95% from a year earlier. The Brazilian-owned company is facing financial difficulties that led it to return the leased Frigonorte plant (now operated by La Tropa Beef). At the same time, it carried out no slaughter at Concepción-MRA and operated only on a very limited basis at Frigorífico Concepción, the group's largest processing facility.
Meanwhile, Minerva increased its slaughter to 79,606 head, only 6% below the level of June 2025, compared with the much steeper overall decline of 22%.
Victoria was the only plant to increase slaughter from a year earlier, posting a 1% gain.
