Currently, beef and poultry meat share equal representation, each accounting for 36-38% of the diet, while pork has already reached 15.2%. The barbecue at historical prices. The survey highlights that the price of barbecue is 47% above its historical average. In contrast, chicken and pork have gained ground driven by a compelling economic equation: today, with what a kilo of barbecue costs, one can buy four kilos of chicken. As reported by the Argentine News Agency based on a report from the UADE Economics Institute (INECO), total meat consumption in the country grew by 12%, but its composition has changed drastically. Beef consumption has plummeted by 42% in the last three decades, dropping from 52 kilograms per capita in 1990 to just 30 kilograms in 2025. The current value is around $15,340, far from the average of $10,449 (in constant values) recorded between 1996 and 2025. This price disparity has changed purchasing habits. "While in 2000 a consumer had to choose between buying 1 kg of barbecue or 2 kg of chicken, today they choose between buying 1 kg of barbecue or 4 kg of chicken," the study details. The purchasing power of the salary. Despite the high prices, the report points to a slight recovery in purchasing power measured in meat during the current administration. Historical average (1996-2025): A salary allowed buying 191 kg of barbecue. Current administration (2024-2025): The average is 154 kg, surpassing the 150 kg of the 2020-2023 period, although still far from the peaks of 2008 (277 kg). Exports and global leadership. The price phenomenon is also explained by the export dynamics. In the last 23 years, beef sales abroad grew by 230% in volume and over 900% in value, pressuring domestic prices. Even so, Argentina retains a world title: despite the drop in internal consumption, the country continues to lead the global ranking of per capita beef consumption, tripling the average of the countries analyzed by the OECD. The Argentine table is undergoing an unprecedented structural transformation.
