Paraguayan beef is entering the Salvadoran market. The National Service of Animal Health and Quality (SENACSA) of Paraguay announced that the General Directorate of Livestock of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of El Salvador has granted final approval for the export of Paraguayan beef. This approval marks the 94th market worldwide for Paraguayan beef, laying the groundwork for strengthening its presence in Central America.
SENACSA confirmed in an official statement that the Salvadoran government approved the international animal health certificate for the export of Paraguayan beef. This result demonstrates the long-standing efforts of Paraguay's livestock industry and its adherence to high-quality standards. El Salvador has shown a trend toward diversifying its meat imports in recent years, and Paraguay's strict sanitary controls and high-quality beef are believed to have met these demands.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña expressed his delight regarding the opening of the Salvadoran market, stating, "As emphasized in my second State of the Nation address, the opening of 63 new markets in a short period proves the excellent quality of Paraguayan beef." Since his inauguration, President Peña has made strengthening the international competitiveness of Paraguay's livestock industry one of his core objectives, and this achievement is seen as the fruition of his policy efforts.
Notably, the Central American region has been one of the main target markets for Paraguayan livestock products. With this entry into El Salvador, Paraguay will now export beef to almost all Central American countries. This is also expected to have a positive impact on diversifying and stabilizing supply chains by leveraging geographical advantages.
The Vice President of the Paraguayan Rural Association (ARP), in an interview with Radio 650 AM, stated, "Today, Chile, as well as the United States and Brazil, are our main markets." He further emphasized, "In the first half of this year, we exported over $1.8 billion in beef, setting a new record. Despite an 8% decrease in volume, the ability to sell beef at higher prices is a very significant achievement." He implied that Paraguayan beef is recognized as a premium product in the international market. This price increase signifies the success of a high-value export strategy that goes beyond mere volume growth.
Indeed, as of the first half of 2025, Paraguay's beef exports totaled 349,728 tons, leading to an export value of over $1.305 billion. These figures show a slight decrease in volume compared to the same period last year, but a significant increase in export value. This can be attributed to a combination of rising overall prices in the international meat market and the increasing brand value and quality competitiveness of Paraguayan beef.
The Paraguayan livestock industry has achieved these results through improvements in breeding environments, modernization of slaughter and processing facilities, and strict quality control systems. In particular, the introduction of sustainable farming practices and efforts to enhance animal welfare have also contributed to positive evaluations in the international market.
This opening of the Salvadoran market will be a significant milestone for the continued growth and international expansion of Paraguay's livestock industry. The Paraguayan government and related livestock organizations plan to continue their efforts to open new markets and expand their share in existing ones. Furthermore, they are expected to accelerate investment in research and development for high-quality beef production and increase production efficiency. Salvadoran consumers can now enjoy high-quality beef raised in Paraguay's pristine pastures.
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