ABSTRACT. This research analyzed the economic performance of Uruguay beef export chain in two different years. Global profits during 2010 reached US$ 985.5 per ton, growing to US$ 1,374.9 in 2013. The proportion captured by private agents decreased from 30% in 2010 to only 10% in 2013. The rest was left on the table as net transfers towards other sectors of the economy. Direct transfers derived from taxes explained between 13% in 2010 and 30% in 2013. Weight of the social security costs represented between 20 to 30%, while cost of capital inefficiencies grew from 40% to 67% in the period.