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LAN & Tucumán Build A Blueberry Bridge

On September 2, 2010, In competitiveness, energy & agriculture, foreign investment, by InvestBA

Blueberry Bridge

Fresh, not Frozen: BA, Entre Ríos and Tucumán have ramped up U.S. blueberry exports with LAN Cargo.

Global demand for strawberries and blueberries has been on the rise, which is good news for the three Argentine provinces that produce the bulk o’ the berries: Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos and Tucumán. And while Argentina is South America’s third largest exporter of strawberries (after Brazil and Chile), she’s moved up to number two (behind Chile) on the blueberry chart. Agronomy engineer Daniel Kirschbaum told La Gaceta that blueberry demand is up thanks to the fruit’s many nutritional and aesthetic qualities. Kirschbaum, an INTA director and University of Florida IFAS graduate, says blueberry production is creating both jobs and foreign investment in Argentina with greater quantities now being exported at more competitive prices. Argentina’s competitive edge is also a success story in logistics for both Tucumán and LAN Cargo. “Thanks to the agreement with LAN we could open to U.S. markets, since the export duration is only 20 hours,” said Tucumán Governor José Alperovich. LAN Cargo General Manager Carlos Larraín says his company is now “the bridge between the fruit harvested in Tucumán and served one day later on the tables of Americans.”

FreshPlaza.com published the export numbers, while the Buenos Aires Herald has a more in-depth piece on “The Blueberry Route” between Tucumán and Miami. ThePacker.com says Tucumán and Concordia have just come through the coldest August on record, so the route may ramp up a little slower this year. “Argentina is going to be a little bit delayed,” says Dave Bowe of Dave’s Specialty Imports. “They’ve had some freeze damage, so supplies are going to be down a little bit. But overall, the weather has not been conducive.”

For more information on Argentina agribusiness opportunities, see our archives and download the new edition of InvestBA Privada.

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Virgen Extra: Argentina Olive Oil Investments

On July 22, 2010, In energy & agriculture, entrepreneurs, foreign investment, by InvestBA
Olive Oil

With global demand & changing consumption patterns, olive oil has grown into a $10 billion dollar industry.

Of all the agribusiness investment opportunities in Argentina and Uruguay, olive oil estates are some of the youngest and most promising. Increasingly health conscious consumers in foreign countries are stoking global demand for olive oil which has tremendous health benefits including heart disease protection and colon cancer prevention. Industry publication Olive Oil Times says Argentina has capitalized on growing demand in both aging and emerging markets like China and recent droughts in the Mediterranean to emerge as a major producer of aceite de oliva. The online magazine features an interview with Luis Feld, agribusiness expert, former president of the Terranova winery and current owner of a large olive oil estate in the Cuyo region that produces the Vero Andino product line. Even though Feld only planted his first trees five years ago, the success prompted his group to launch a company that markets and sells fractional ownership opportunities in other Cuyo-based olive oil estates. With global consumption approaching 3 million tons per year and average price per ton around US$3,600, we are talking about a roughly US$10 billion industry. In addition to annual rents of 18-20%, the group touts olive oil fractionals as “an attractive alternative for those who believe land, water and agribusiness are strategic businesses of the future.” For more information on agribusiness opportunities in Argentina and Uruguay, visit our archives or download the July 2010 edition of InvestBA Privada.

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Exports, Loans Surge in Argentina & Uruguay

On April 26, 2010, In energy & agriculture, foreign investment, uruguay, by InvestBA
http://investba.com/2010/01/more-rain-efficiency-mean-bumper-crop-in-ba/

Argentina soy farms like this one for sale can be found in the InvestBA Property Database.

As farmers in Argentina and Uruguay ride a wave of recovery, exports are booming and banks are poised to increase lending dramatically, according to Bloomberg. We’ve covered the bullish forecasts regarding this year’s corn and soy crops, and now it appears the banks have taken notice.  “Banco Galicia, Argentina’s second-biggest farm lender, expects agricultural loans to increase about 40 percent this year after no growth in 2009,” says Bloomberg, while “HSBC forecasts an expansion of as much as 30 percent to a record volume.” Argentine farmers are expected to produce 54.5 million metric tons of soybeans and 21.4 million tons of corn this year, annual increases of 65 percent and 69 percent from 2009. Bankers and farmers are equally optimistic given the record harvests coincide with an improving interest rate environment. Across the river, cattle farmers in Uruguay continue to fill the gap left by falling production levels in Argentina. Beef exports from Uruguay rose 27% in March to 203,465 tonnes compared to March 2009, according to Meat Trade News Daily. 40 percent of Uruguay’s beef exports went to Russia and Asia with Russia demanding 90 percent more beef and Asian markets buying 122 percent more Uruguayan beef compared to 2009. According to Ag Weekly, “the USDA increased production estimates of soybean crops from Brazil and Argentina, the world’s No. 2 and No. 3 producers, but said strong demand from China will help consume the bumper crops. “

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Initial Pampa Offering? El Tejar Weighs Options

On March 11, 2010, In energy & agriculture, foreign investment, us companies, by InvestBA
Buenos Aires grain & meat giant El Tejar is backed by Capital Group Companies & Altima Partners

Buenos Aires grain & meat giant El Tejar is backed by Capital Group Companies & Altima Partners

More Buenos Aires IPO news this week on the heels of yesterday’s post regarding TGLT’s public offering ambitions. Bloomberg BusinessWeek is reporting that BA-based El Tejar is weighing an IPO in New York and taking the necessary steps to be in compliance whenever the mood strikes over the next three years. El Tejar CEO Oscar Alvarado told BBW, “We are preparing ourselves so that Brazil is not our only option, and the option exists of doing it in New York. We are preparing the company so as to be able to make the decision to go public whenever we decide.” With operations in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, El Tejar designs and manages grain and meat production systems with an emphasis on risk management and environmental sustainability. (Org Chart) El Tejar’s annual production of grains and oilseeds  is roughly 3 million tons according to Bloomberg, and the company should benefit from record corn and soybean crops this year in both Argentina and Brazil.  While the company describes its focus and community involvement activities as “multilocal,” the company’s appeal to investors is definitely multinational. The two investment funds with the largest stakes in El Tejar are The Capital Group Companies and London-based Altima Partners LLP. (Bloomberg BusinessWeek article)

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The Politics of Beef: Argentina’s Loss, Uruguay’s Gain

On December 18, 2009, In competitiveness, energy & agriculture, foreign investment, uruguay, by InvestBA
Cows outnumber people over 3:1 in Uruguay and grass-fed beef is the norm. (Photo: Eduardo Amorim)

Cows outnumber people over 3:1 in Uruguay and grass-fed beef is the norm. (Photo: Eduardo Amorim)

An American Express print campaign several years back encouraged cardholders to travel abroad with this culinary tagline, “Only 4 restaurants in the world can prepare the perfect steak…3 of them are in Argentina.” Perhaps the only thing bigger than the country’s reputation for fine beef is the sheer girth of the cattle that roam the fertile Pampas. But a funny thing happened on the road to recovery from the ’02 financial crisis, Alexei Barrionuevo tells New York Times readers: “Argentina, in some ways, is a victim of its own success. Exports rose after a steep devaluation of the Argentine peso in 2002 made the country’s beef more competitive globally. But supplies began to dry up for Argentine consumers — who eat more beef per person than any others in the world, industry officials say — causing prices to rise and stoking social discontent.” Further meddling by former President Kirchner and recent drought conditions have forced many farmers to focus more efforts on soybean cultivation. Advantage Uruguay. The neighboring country of 3.8 million is growing beef exports and gaining visibility on the world stage, thanks in part to an aggressive marketing campaign by INAC, the National Beef Institute. InvestBA remains highly bullish on this beautiful country which offers foreign investors unique investment opportunities, tax advantages, natural beauty in both the interior and along the Tango Coast, and—together with Argentina—the highest quality of life of any countries in Latin America. (Full NYTimes article)

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