Following an agreement to exchange meats between the two countries in May, Argentina’s minister of agro-industry Luis Miguel Etchevehere said the ministry had fulfilled its promise to Japan to build a “commercial link”.
As well as the first shipment of beef, another 10 tonnes of Argentine meat, featuring 13 different cuts, will be shipped imminently to the Asian country.
Additionally, several sheep meat establishments in Patagonia have also been authorised to export to Japan.
“In May we promised that this month [July], we would start shipping Argentine meat to Japan and we will keep our word,” said Etchevehere. “This marks a before and after in the commercial link between both nations, we know that our exchanges can be deepened and diversified, and we hope to continue advancing so that our commercial link grows.”
To celebrate the milestone, the Argentine embassy in Tokyo, together with Marubeni, the importing company, will hold an event on 1 August to promote and launch the beef.
Commercial relationships between the two countries have continued to increase since the start of Mauricio Macri’s presidency in 2015.
Argentina’s ministry described Japan as “one of the main food importers in the world” and said it represented a “great opportunity” for Argentine exports.
In 2017, Japanese imports of chilled and frozen boneless beef exceeded $3.1 billion.