Argentina is the only agricultural leader with a drop in exports

Through a study called “Towards a more competitive, inclusive and resilient agri-food sector”, the WB indicated a stagnation of the sector in the last 10 yearswhile competitors continue to grow.

Exports: the warning from the World Bank

The warning from the financial organization focuses on “distortive” policies that affect Argentina’s relationship with the market:

“There are general and specific policies that are distorting and generate changes in the situation. At the tax level, the tax burden on exports stands out, taxes on gross income and obstacles to export and import, which generate distortions in the sector that discourage investment and returns. Although the sector continues to generate, competitive disadvantages are creating obstacles.”

The report reviews different aspects that negatively affect the economy. Warning about the influence that climate disasters can have, for example, the World Bank points out:

“If adaptation measures are not implemented, flood damage could reduce GDP by 0.5% per year by 2060, and persistent droughts could cause GDP to decline by 4% per year by 2050.”

According to World Bank spokespersons, Argentina has the possibility of breaking out of stagnation and boosting its exports with a “agri-food competitiveness and economic returns“, “socioeconomic inclusion” and “Environmental resilience and sustainability”.

Due to exports, regional economies sold more but fewer dollars entered

The latest report from the Export Monitor of Regional Economies (MEER), prepared by the Argentine Confederation of Medium Enterprises (CAME), showed that last April ended with a drop in exports from regional economies of 1.5 % in dollars, and with a growth of 2.8% in tons. It represents a year-on-year decrease of US$113 million in total exports and an increase of 175 thousand tons in the volume sold.

After 19 months with a downward trend (since September 2022), tons sold abroad finally increased in April; but food, in general terms, continues to rearrange its prices, in line with the decline in international markets.

With this fall, lRegional exports reached US$7,425 million exported in the period May 2023 – April 2024having imported US$961 million, which results in a trade surplus of US$6,464 million.