Argentina’s agribusiness shipments increase in the first half of 2022

Argentina shipped 51.2 million tons (Mt) of grains, by-products, and oils during the first half of the year, 6% more than in the same period of 2021, according to data from the Rosario Stock Exchange (BCR).

The higher dispatch of grains explains this increase; 32.7 Mt were shipped between January and June, 19% more than the volume reached in the first six months of the previous year.

Shipments of oils, meanwhile, totaled 3 Mt between January and June, showing a considerable drop compared to the first half of 2021, while shipments of by-products reached 15.5 Mt, also showing a reduction but of a lesser magnitude.

Opening the analysis within each of the categories, it can be seen that the increase in grain shipments is mainly explained by the growth in wheat shipments in the first place, barley in the second place, and the maintenance of corn shipments in the third place.

According to the BCR, “the higher wheat production of the last season has left a record exportable balance for the cereal. Wheat shipments reached 11.2 Mt between January and June, almost 80% more than in the same period of 2021.

Moreover, given that in 2021/22, winter cereal production in the central and northern region of Argentina was outstanding (unlike the previous 2020/21 cycle) and that the level of the Paraná River was recovering from February onwards, wheat shipments from Up-River ports doubled from one year to the other: in the first half of 2022 they reached 6.6 Mt while in 2021 they had totaled 3.2 Mt”.

Barley also exhibited a remarkable performance, reaching a total shipment of 2.9 Mt between January and June, exceeding by 46% the figure reached the previous year (2 Mt).

On the other hand, corn shipments totaled no less than 17.2 Mt (vs. 16.7 Mt in 2021) and accounted for 52.5% of grains shipped.

It is particularly noteworthy given that corn production for the current 2021/22 cycle is estimated to be lower than that of the previous season, leaving a lower exportable balance.

Ports located in Greater Rosario were the ones that shipped the largest amount of tons of grains in the first half of the year, with a total of 13.1 Mt for the ports of the San Lorenzo department and 6.8 Mt for those of the Rosario department.

The Up-River ports accounted for 61% of the total, an identical proportion to the first half of last year.

Forty-five percent of the shipments are destined for Asia. Then, in decreasing order of importance, Africa (21%), America (20%), Europe (13%), and lastly, Oceania (1%).

With information from Portal Portuario