According to private consultancy ABECEB, Argentina’s exports are projected to achieve a new high of US$ 94.4 billion by 2026, enabling the nation to conclude the year with a trade surplus of US$ 16 billion. This would indicate an 8.4% increase compared to the previous year, surpassing the former all-time high of US$ 88.4 billion established in 2022. The leading sector for exports in the country remains agriculture, projected to grow by 6.9%. This growth is attributed to a record harvest, a rebound in export sales following the unification of the exchange rate, and heightened international demand, particularly from China and Southeast Asia. This export growth indicates a transformation in Argentina’s export structure, showing a decreasing reliance on the agribusiness sector. “2026 wouldn’t just be a nominal record. It would lock in a qualitative shift in the makeup of Argentina’s exports: alongside agriculture’s traditional strength, Vaca Muerta, metals mining, and lithium are taking up more and more space,” said Natacha Izquierdo.
Izquierdo noted that this more diverse export base “reduces the long-standing vulnerability of Argentina’s trade balance to weather cycles and swings in agricultural prices, and paves the way for structurally stronger export growth.” She noted, however, that this scenario could only take hold “as long as the macro holds steady and the committed investments actually materialize.” ABECEB also highlighted a “non-traditional” element among the nation’s foremost exporters: the knowledge economy. With foreign sales exceeding US$ 10 billion annually, it stands as one of the nation’s leading export complexes. “What matters isn’t just the dollar figure, but its ability to generate hard currency with light logistics, heavy reliance on talent, and broad spillovers across the rest of the economy,” ABECEB stated.
The experts noted that knowledge-economy exports “bring scale, relative stability, and room to grow without requiring large physical volumes of production.” The report indicated that provinces associated with substantial oil and mining investments are becoming the most significant beneficiaries regarding export share. Neuquén distinguishes itself due to the maturation of Vaca Muerta projects and the consistent growth in shale oil and gas production. “The province no longer just supplies only the domestic market — it’s positioning itself as a net exporter of hydrocarbons, with room to scale up as takeaway infrastructure projects move forward, such as pipelines and LNG facilities,” ABECEB stated.
Chubut emerges as another significant beneficiary, capitalizing not only on conventional oil and gas exports but also experiencing enhancements in its fishing sector, attributed to increased catches and elevated international prices. Nonetheless, a considerable distance remains before the Patagonian provinces can compete with the export share of the central provinces of the country. A study revealed that five provinces contributed to 77.2% of export growth in 2025. The leading three were Buenos Aires (36.3%), Santa Fe (18.6%), and Córdoba (12.5%) — all of which have a longstanding reputation as agribusiness strongholds. Neuquén and Chubut followed, recording rates of 5.2% and 4.6%, respectively.