Argentina Sets Record in Grain Production and Export for the 2025/26 Season
The 2025/26 season has been pivotal for Argentina’s grain industry. The country harvested a record wheat crop and, for the first time in nearly three decades, resumed its exports to China. In December 2025, three shipments of wheat totaling 160,000 tons were dispatched, marking an important step in expanding the presence of Argentine products in the international market.
This is reported by AgroReview
Favorable Conditions and Government Support Stimulated Development
Significant growth in export volumes was made possible by the reduction of export duties on agricultural products by the government of President Javier Milei. Specifically, duties on wheat and barley were lowered from 9.5% to 7.5%. This enhanced the competitiveness of Argentine grains in global markets and created conditions for increased foreign currency inflows into the country.
According to the Rosario Stock Exchange, wheat production in Argentina for the 2025/26 marketing year is projected to reach 27.1 million tons – a 20% increase compared to the previous record. Such results were achieved due to extraordinarily high yields, which in some farms reached 6–7 tons per hectare. Favorable weather conditions, abundant winter rainfall, and the active implementation of modern agricultural technologies and high-yield seeds played a crucial role.
Quality Challenges and Prospects for Grain Exports
Despite record harvests, farmers faced declining wheat quality in certain regions – particularly, the protein content dropped in some areas to 9.5%, which is below the average values of previous seasons. This forces importers to blend Argentine grain with higher-quality products from other countries to ensure the necessary specifications.
“The expansion of exports occurred against the backdrop of reduced export duties initiated by the government of President Javier Milei. Specifically, duties on wheat and barley were lowered from 9.5% to 7.5%, which is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Argentine products in global markets and stimulate foreign currency inflows.”
Wheat exports for the 2025/26 season are estimated at 17.5 million tons (including flour in grain equivalent). Brazil remains the main importing country; however, due to quality issues, a reduction in purchase volumes is possible. Domestic wheat consumption is approximately 7.7 million tons, with the majority (6.9 million tons) directed towards processing. Argentina has about 160 milling enterprises, whose total capacity significantly exceeds current production volumes.
Regarding other grains, corn production in the 2025/26 marketing year is projected at 58 million tons, with exports around 40 million tons. Favorable weather has ensured good crop conditions, although competition from Brazil and the United States may impact Argentina’s export potential.
In the oilseed sector, soybean production reached 47.5 million tons, with processing at 43 million tons. High demand for meal and oil maintains processing profitability, despite large export volumes and limited product stocks.
Sunflower production is also showing positive dynamics – a nearly record figure of 5.3 million tons is expected, with processing potentially reaching 5 million tons. The expansion of processing capacities and stable demand in global markets strengthen Argentina’s position as one of the leading players in the oilseed sector.