Senator Rafael Filizzola stated that Paraguayan consumers are paying prices for beef that are increasingly close to those seen on the international market, attributing the phenomenon to the country's meat sector's strong export orientation and high market concentration.
Around 90% of Paraguay's beef production is destined for foreign markets, meaning that fluctuations in international prices have a direct impact on the domestic market. "Rising international prices drive higher exports, reduce the supply available for domestic consumption, and push up the prices paid by Paraguayans," he said.
Filizzola described what he called a paradoxical situation: although Paraguay is one of the world's leading beef exporters, local consumers end up shouldering prices similar to those in much higher-income countries. "Paraguayans pay international prices for beef, but they do not receive the benefits of international markets," he stated.
The senator cited data from the Comisión Nacional de la Competencia (Conacom) — which, he said, shows that five slaughterhouses account for approximately 85% of the country's beef processing. According to the average market share ranking over the past five years, Frigomerc SA, part of the Minerva Foods group, leads with a 38.8% share, followed by Frigorífico Concepción with 22.3%. Further behind are Frigochaco, Frigochorti, and Neuland, each holding around 9% of the market.
For Filizzola, this structure amounts to a dual market power: "Oligopsony in cattle purchasing and oligopoly in beef sales." The senator challenged the notion that any attempt at regulation implies market distortion, arguing that current conditions are far from representing a scenario of free competition.
In the same context, Filizzola expressed support for the bill introduced by Senator Éver Villalba, which proposes establishing a maximum profit margin of 10% on three popular beef cuts. The initiative does not seek to set prices arbitrarily but rather to limit profit margins on essential products to improve consumer access. "By establishing a reasonable 10% profit margin over cost, a balance is ensured between the producer's right to earn a return and the consumer's right to feed themselves with dignity," the bill's text states.
The senator also warned about the impact of rising beef prices on Paraguayan families' diets and on one of the country's most deeply rooted traditions. "More and more families are struggling to afford the traditional weekend asado, a historic Paraguayan custom," he said.