BUENOS AIRES - As New Year's festivities draw near, meat-loving Argentines are readying their famous "asado" grills -- traditionally laden with steaks, ribs and sausages.
This year, however, menus will feature much more chicken, pork and even vegetables as inflation puts beef beyond the reach of many and societal values change.
Argentines have for years vied with their neighbours in Uruguay for the title of world's top beef eaters.
But in 2024, Argentina recorded an historic low of 47 kilograms of red meat consumed per person on average, according to the IPCVA beef promotion institute.
Despite a slight rebound to an estimated 50 kg eaten per person in 2025, consumption was half the nearly 100 kg of beef Argentines were devouring at the end of the 1950s.
Pork and chicken, both cheaper than beef, both grew in popularity in 2025, and the UVA vegan union says more than one in 10 Argentines are now non-meat eaters.
In Argentina this year, monthly inflation has fluctuated between 1.5 and 3.7 percent, while the annual rate stands at about 30 percent.
Beef inflation has been higher than that for other food categories.
The Argentine beef sector is also heartened by growth in international demand, said Breitschmitt, particularly in Asia and China -- which receives 70 percent of the South American country's beef exports.