Sunflower seed exports drive surge in Argentina’s agro-industrial shipments

Argentina’s sunflower seed exports jumped 1,366% in volume in the first four months of 2026, the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries said, making it the fastest-growing product in the country’s agro-industrial export basket.

The performance strengthens the role of Argentina’s farm and food sectors as key sources of foreign currency for the national economy.

From January through April, 209 of the 332 agro-industrial products exported by Argentina posted year-on-year growth. Together, those products generated US$11.318 billion in export revenue and totaled 29.67 million tonnes, according to data compiled by the Undersecretariat for Agri-Food Markets based on INDEC figures.

Sunflower seeds far outpaced the other top-performing products. Dried shelled black bean exports rose 865%, cotton yarn increased 863%, dry beans climbed 381%, and sesame exports grew 190% from the same period last year.

More products set records

Export growth also spread across other regional economies and agro-industrial chains. Stemmed tobacco rose 132%, butter increased 109%, pork and pork products climbed 84%, honey advanced 84%, wheat grew 77%, lemons rose 76%, and sunflower oil increased 69%.

The official report also said 89 agro-industrial products reached their highest export volumes in the past decade, pointing to a broader diversification of Argentina’s export supply.

Another 33 products that had not been exported in the first four months of 2025 were shipped abroad in the same period this year. The group included sweet potatoes, pork fat, safflower seeds, dried apples, dried pears and goat meat, which together generated US$21.4 million.

The 209 products that increased exports accounted for 72% of total agro-industrial export volume and 66% of the sector’s foreign-currency revenue, underscoring their weight in Argentina’s foreign trade.

The Secretariat of Agriculture attributed the performance to stronger competitiveness following the reduction or elimination of export duties, the opening of new markets, progress on trade agreements such as those involving Mercosur and the European Union and EFTA, and the simplification and digitalization of foreign trade procedures.

Source: AgroLatam.com

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