Argentina’s lemon exports rise 36% in value, hit 20-year high

Argentina’s lemon export chain posted a historic performance in the first four months of 2026, with export revenue up 36% year on year to US$108 million.

The figures, processed jointly by the Undersecretariat for Agri-Food Markets and International Integration and the Undersecretariat for Regional Economies and Small and Medium Producers, also showed a 50% increase in export volumes, which reached 50,085 tonnes.

Argentina’s Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, under the Ministry of Economy, said the result was driven largely by a sharp increase in fresh lemon exports. Shipments of fresh lemons rose 76% by volume and 129% by revenue, generating US$26 million. That represented an increase of US$14.7 million from the same period last year.

Datamar’s maritime container throughput data shows an increase of nearly 80% in Argentina’s citrus fruit shipments. The chart below shows the monthly volumes:

Citrus Fruit Exports | Argentina | Jan 2023 – Apr 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Industrial derivatives and higher prices support record

Industrial lemon byproducts also contributed to the export record in the first four months of the year.

Concentrated lemon juice exports rose 23.6% by volume and 67.1% by value, bringing in US$32.4 million. The result represented an increase of US$13 million from a year earlier.

Lemon essential oil stood out in the report, reaching a record US$48.2 million in sales, 6% above the level recorded in 2025. The international price of lemon oil reached US$24,477 per tonne, up 9% from the previous period.

Export destinations

Argentina’s production window, which coincides with the peak harvest season in the Southern Hemisphere, helped strengthen the country’s ability to supply industries and consumer chains in Europe and the United States.

The main markets for Argentina’s lemon export chain were the United States, Ireland, the Netherlands, Russia and Italy.

The official report from the Secretariat of Agriculture also highlighted new trade flows and strong increases in specific buyer markets. Exports to China rose 921%, while shipments to Spain increased 729%. France posted growth of 640%, Japan 217% and Greece 176%.

Source: SAGyP

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