"Beef commodities are products that are used in industry," explains Jorge Torelli, vice president of the Institute for the Promotion of Argentine Beef.

"And they have a similar price whether they are from Australia, Argentina, Brazil or the U.S. But high quality products have a different taste. The problem is getting that product known in China."

Up until recently, Argentina mostly exported what they call beef commodities to China. That is now changing. 

In June the first shipment of higher-value cuts of beef was sent to China after protocols were signed in 2018. Argentina's beef export sector is hoping new agreements with China will lead to a swift increase in exports.

At a stand at the busy Agro Expo in Buenos Aires this week, Torelli explained to CGTN the institute's work in China to market Argentine beef. As well as advertising, they have been working with well-known chefs to try to have their products included in restaurants. "We also realized how important e-commerce is in China, so we have used social networks like WeChat too."

Based in the city of La Plata, Gorina meat processing plant is, according to CEO Carlos Riusech, "in the podium" of the largest exporters of beef in Argentina. They are optimistic the trend increasing beef exports will continue. "Argentina is an important player. Next year (it) will probably be the fifth largest exporter as a country, and we could position ourselves in the top three in the world soon." 

Beef is one of Argentina's trademark products. And the farming sector is the backbone of the economy. In May, economic activity increased for the first time in over a year as the country struggles to emerge from recession. Many industries are still suffering, but the agricultural sector grew by just under 50 percent, and that led to an overall growth in the country's economy. 

The recently-signed agreement between the European Union and Mercosur has been welcomed by the sector. So too new agreements that mean the country can export more volume and higher value goods to the Chinese market.