Thesis
Uruguayan beef to the german market: A SWOT analysis
Registro en:
Autor
Clement, Guillermo
Theuvsen, Ludwig (Prof.Guia)
Spiller, Achim (Prof.Guia)
Institución
Resumen
110 p. Forecasts estimate an increase in world beef demand as well as for Europe, which
after becoming a net beef importer in 2003, is expected to import 700 thousand
tonnes in 2013. Within the European Union, Germany is one of the most attractive
markets, where prices of beef are much higher than the average world beef prices.
This opens great possibilities for exporter countries like Uruguay. Nevertheless, in
spite of the good international reputation of Uruguayan beef, only 2% of the total
traded volume is destined to Germany, but it represents 4% of total beef export
revenues. Furthermore, because of high domestic competition with other agricultural
productions, it is crucial for farmers to improve the cattle business. Therefore,
through Expert-interviews to beef supply chain stakeholders in Uruguay, a SWOTAnalysis
was implemented in order to find out what the main competitive advantages
and the main weaknesses of the beef business to Germany were. The main findings of
the research indicate that Uruguay has low production costs, has good beefproduction
factors and has experience in the international business. Nevertheless, it
has to improve its heterogeneous cattle supply and the low vertical integration
between farmers and slaughterhouses, in order to compete in the challenging
German market, which has high tariff barriers and where Argentinean beef is the
most well-liked. German consumer trends show an increase in organic beef demand
as well as in convenience products, but constant beef consumption and an increase
in the beef market share of discount stores is expected. In spite of this, Uruguay is
able to comply with German requirements, but to do so, it is indispensable that the
industry sector on the one hand, encourages farmers to increase the production of
both conventional and organic beef, and on the other hand, considers entering the
convenience product business. Finally, it is necessary to increase integration in the
Uruguayan beef supply chain, with the aim of competing with other agricultural
productions and make possible for this industry sector to be able to assure future
cattle and therefore make supply contracts with importer firms at better prices.
Key Words: SWOT Analysis, Expert interviews, Uruguayan beef industry, German
consumer preferences.