Puerto Quequén maintains record cargo pace with strong sunflower and wheat exports

Puerto Quequén, a key export hub in Argentina's Buenos Aires province, has reported a strong operational performance for the first half of 2026, maintaining its record-setting pace from the previous year. The port successfully navigated a significant contraction in soybean exports by boosting shipments of wheat, barley, and particularly sunflower.

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Maintaining the level of the same period last year, which was already a record, is extremely auspicious.

From January to June, the port processed a total of 3,744,726 tons, marking a slight increase of 0.62% compared to the same period in 2025. This activity involved servicing 154 vessels. Mariano Carrillo, interim president of the Port Management Consortium, expressed optimism, stating, "What's important for us is that the tonnage is sustained. Since 2025 we've had historic cargo, and this first semester we are even a little higher. Maintaining the level of the same period last year, which was already a record, is extremely auspicious."

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We predict that by the end of the year we will be able to celebrate another cargo record.

A notable shift in the export matrix occurred, with soybean volumes dropping by 36.3%. However, this deficit was more than offset by a surge in other grains. Sunflower exports, in particular, experienced an unprecedented boom, increasing by 212.4% and tripling the volumes from 2025, driven by favorable soil conditions in the region. Wheat exports also saw a healthy rise of 32.6%, adding over 268,000 additional tons, while forage barley exports increased by 28%.

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Sunflower has been doing very well due to the soil conditions in the southeast of Buenos Aires.

Looking ahead, the consortium anticipates continued growth, especially in barley exports, citing strong international demand. Despite the reduced soybean supply, Puerto Quequén managed a significant 68,000-ton soybean shipment to China in June, ranking as the fourth-largest operation in the terminal's history. Bunge Argentina SA led export rankings in the first half, followed by Cofco International and ACA, which together accounted for nearly 59% of the total volume handled.

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We have data that it is coming on very strong. There are firm orders from abroad and those figures will increase in the corridor between Necochea and Tres Arroyos.