Browse Data and Analysis

On February 28, 2023, Argentina’s National Agri-Food Health and Quality Service (SENASA) self-suspended poultry exports following the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in commercial poultry.

After three years of dry weather conditions which have challenged the Argentine beef cattle industry, Post estimates that Argentine cattle slaughter and beef production will both drop in 2023, in line with official USDA estimates.

Wheat exports for marketing year (MY) 2022-2023 are forecast at 6.2 million tons (including wheat flour), 1.3 million tons lower than USDA’s official volume because of smaller beginning stocks, larger domestic consumption and larger ending stocks.

Dry weather and high temperatures in the last months of 2022 have damaged the Marketing Year (MY) 2022/23 Argentine soybean crop, particularly affecting first crop soybeans within a 125 kilometer radius of Rosario, Santa Fe Province.

Argentine imports of consumer-oriented food and beverages in 2023 are projected to remain flat at 2022 levels, due to continuing economic uncertainty, currency controls, weak consumer spending, and the expectation of high inflation.

For Marketing Year (MY) 2022/23, Post forecasts fresh deciduous fruit production to rebound to 535,000 MT for apples and 700,000 MT for pears due to favorable weather conditions.

For marketing year (MY) 2022/23, Post forecasts fresh lemon production to decrease to 1.77 million metric tons (MMT) due to unfavorable weather conditions. Fresh orange production is projected to decrease to 800,000 metric tons (MT), and fresh tangerine production is expected to decrease to 380,000 MT due to heavy hailstorms in July 2022 in northeastern Argentina, which caused fruit loss and may have damaged trees.

This report includes technical requirements and export certificates for the export of food and agricultural products to Argentina. It complements the Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Annual Country 2022 Report.

This report is an overview and an update on regulations and standards for importing U.S. food and beverage products to Argentina. Post recommends U.S. suppliers interested in the Argentine market contact our office or local importers to discuss the rules and regulations applicable to import requirements for specific products.

The Government of Argentina (GOA) approved two new genetically engineered (GE) events in 2022 (one soybean and one maize). In November 2021, Brazil's regulatory agency approved the commercialization of wheat flour containing the HB4 drought tolerance event grown in Argentina. As a result of this approval by Argentina’s most important export market for wheat, the GOA granted full approval for seed commercialization.

Due to dry conditions, Argentine wheat production for marketing year (MY) 2022/23 is forecast down at 15.5 million metric tons (MMT), 2 MMT lower than the official USDA estimate. As a consequence wheat exports are lowered to 10 MMT. Barley exports for MY 2022/23 are also forecast down at 3 MMT, 500,000 MT lower than official USDA projection as result of lower production and slower farmer selling.

2022 Argentine dairy production is projected at the same level with respect to 2021 or with a drop of less than one percent year-on-year to 11.495,000 MT, due to abnormally dry and warm weather during the first half of the year which is expected to continue until the end of the year. Post forecasts Whole Milk Powder (WMP) production to rise to 245,000 MT in a recessionary domestic market with stable production compared to 2021, which would result in a higher export balance.