Argentina’s mining exports rise 84% in first four months, reaching record high

Argentina’s mineral exports hit a record high in the first four months of 2026, driven by stronger overseas sales of lithium and metal ores. Exports totaled US$3.254 billion from January through April, up 84.3% from the same period in 2025.

Economy Minister Luis Caputo celebrated the figures in a post on X, noting that mining exports were “161.8% above the 2010-2025 average for the first four months of the year.”

The latest monthly report from the National Directorate for Mining Promotion and Economics showed that exports totaled US$817 million in April alone, up 86.3% from the same month last year. Mining shipments accounted for 10.5% of Argentina’s total exports in April and 10.9% in the first four months of the year.

Among the main export segments, lithium posted exceptional growth, supported by stronger international prices and higher volumes. Official data showed lithium exports totaled US$187 million in April, up 153.9% year on year and the highest level ever recorded for the month. Lithium accounted for 23% of total mining exports in April.

In the first four months of 2026, lithium exports reached US$658 million, up 137.8% from a year earlier and equal to 20.2% of total mining exports. Export volumes rose 53.7% in the period.

Metal ores, used to extract pure metals, also posted strong gains. Exports reached US$615 million in April, up 75.7% from the same month in 2025. The segment accounted for 75.3% of mining exports that month, led by gold, with US$514 million, or 63% of the total, and silver, with US$87 million, or 11%.

Main destinations

Switzerland, China, the United States and Canada accounted for 89% of Argentina’s mining export destinations in April, equivalent to US$730 million. The flow was driven mainly by metal ores, which represented 77% of mining sales to those markets both in April and in the first four months of the year.

In his post, Caputo highlighted year-on-year growth in exports to China, up 187%; the United States, up 101%; South Korea, up 99%; Germany, up 97%; and Canada, up 68%.

The remaining shipments went mainly to India, South Korea, Germany, Bulgaria and Finland.

Source: La Nación

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