Argentine Trade Exchange - First half of 2025

HIGHLIGHTS

• In the first six months of the year, exports totalled USD 39.7 billion, which represents a year-on-year increase of 4.0%, as a result of a rise in quantities exported (4.9%) that more than offset the decrease in prices (‑4.2%).
• Imports amounted to USD 37.0 billion and grew 34.6% year-on-year, owing to the 45.4% rise in imported quantities, while prices dropped 7.2%. This is mainly due to higher quantities of passenger motor vehicles, capital goods, consumer goods and parts and accessories for capital goods.
• Consequently, the trade balance reached a surplus of USD 2.8 billion, while in January-June 2024 a positive balance of USD 10.7 billion had been recorded.

• Prominent are the increases in exports of soybean crude oil (USD 706 million), unwrought gold (USD 663 million), crude petroleum oils (USD 636 million), and maize (USD 241 million). The largest falls were observed in soybean flour and pellets (‐USD 1,152 million), soybeans (-USD 453 million), soybean oil, excluded crude (-USD 197 million), and wheat (‐USD 83 million).
• In relation to the soybean complex, the prices of flour and pellets (-22.4%) and beans (-11.4%) went down, while those of crude oil (16.0%) and biodiesel went up. As for the quantities exported, those of crude oil (12.4%) and flour and pellets (0.7%) increased, and those of beans (-23.7%) and biodiesel (-81.5) decreased.
• Regarding imports, the most significant increases occurred in the purchases of vehicles for the transport of persons (USD 1,428 million), chassis, parts and tyres (USD 1,058 million), vehicles for the transport of goods (USD 454 million), and telephone parts (USD 395 million); while those of natural gas in gaseous state (-USD 330 million), soybeans (-USD 285 million) and iron agglomerates by pelletisation process (-USD 158 million) fell.

• The main export destinations were Brazil, with a 15.1% share, the EU, 8.9%, the United States, 8.6%, and Chile, 8.2%.  In turn, the most outstanding origin of imports were Brazil, 25.2% of the total, China, 22.5%, the EU, 14.1%, and the United States, 8.9%.
• The largest surpluses were obtained in trade with Chile (USD 2,804 million), India (USD 1,669 million), Peru (USD 1,116 million), Switzerland (USD 896 million) and Saudi Arabia (USD 879 million); while the main deficits were registered with China (‑USD 5,227 million), Brazil (‑USD 3,299 million) and Germany (‑USD 1,114 million).

Read the full report in Spanish here (with highlights in English).