Uruguay wants to reduce dependence on pig imports

Uruguay is known globally and has a long beef tradition, but what about pork? The pleasant country in the south east of South America sustains a small production, around 13,000 tonnes per year, and low levels of per capita consumption at 16.6 kg annually.

Uruguayans prefer beef over pork

In fact, pig meat only represents 19.39% of Uruguay’s meat preference, while beef and poultry are the favourite ones, with 53.38% (45.7 kg) and 24.3% (20.8 kg) respectively. In total, according to Uruguay’s National Institute for Meat (INAC), inhabitants consumed about 85.5 kg animal protein among all species in 2020.

Uruguay’s pig production has been decreasing over the last decade. Data from the Uruguayan Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries showed that, in 2012, the country produced 17,223 tonnes of pork and, year-on-year, those numbers have been declining to the current level of 13,000 tonnes.

Dependence on pork imports

Imports, on the other hand, have grown since then to meet the domestic demand. 10 years ago, in 2012, Uruguay imported 26,376 tonnes of pork. Until November 2021, that number has grown to 36,654 tonnes, representing 57.18% of the total of the country’s meat imports.

The origin of that amount is almost entirely from Brazil (97%), with the remaining few percent hailing from Paraguay, Spain, Denmark, Chile and Argentina. For all those pig meat imports Uruguay paid US$ 91.5 million, at a price of US$ 2,497 per tonne in 2021. The preferred cut is pork shank, which represents about two-thirds of the total.

Pig herd inventory

Since 2019, the Uruguayan pig herd has risen slightly from 142,761 animals to 148,853 in November this year. Just over a decade ago (2009), those numbers topped 240,000 head. According to INAC, 7 groups cover all commercial pig production there, see also Table 1.

The highest concentration of those farms is in the south of the country, especially in the departments of Canelones, San José and Colonia, which are home to about the half of pig inventory.

Lack of long-term pig production plans

When analysing the potential of Uruguay’s pig sector, Luis Pedro Elhordoy, president of the South West group of Pig Producers, highlighted that pig production is the 2nd most important agro-economy on the planet and it would be a “luxury” for Uruguay to have a targeted and profitable production.

To the local newspaper La Mañana he said, “It is hard to think that, being a livestock and agricultural country, we cannot use a source of wealth as important as pig production. This sector could create labour for the people. Instead of being an exporting country we are an importer.”

Elhordoy added that there is no plan for that and Uruguay needs a national plan, despite some interest expressed by the country’s president, Luís Lacalle Pou. Elhordoy concluded, “Due to that, it is difficult to move forward.”