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Sunflower exports surge 159.5%, driving multi-million dollar investments
🇲🇽 Mexico /Economy & Trade

Sunflower exports surge 159.5%, driving multi-million dollar investments

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Documents & data Context piece
  • Sunflower exports from Argentina surged 159.5% in the first four months of 2026, reaching $1.327 billion.
  • The sector is experiencing strong growth with record crushing levels and significant investments in new industrial plants.
  • Despite existing export taxes, the industry shows confidence, with major companies announcing substantial expansion plans.

Argentina's sunflower sector is experiencing a significant boom, with exports soaring by 159.5% in the first four months of 2026, totaling $1.327 billion. This surge has cemented sunflower as one of the most dynamic segments of the Argentine agro-industry, marked by record processing volumes and substantial investments in new industrial facilities.

A report by economist Jorge Ingaramo, disseminated by the Argentine Sunflower Association (Asagir), highlights the sector's strong expansion despite the continued imposition of export duties on seeds and crude oil. Data from Indec, cited by the Argentine Agribusiness Council (CAA), confirms that the sunflower complex accounted for 7.9% of all Argentine agro-industrial exports during this period.

The Argentine processing industry reaffirms its confidence in the sector's potential through significant expansion plans.

— Report by Jorge IngaramoThe report highlights the industry's commitment to growth.

This export growth is mirrored by intense industrial activity. March saw a historic record for monthly sunflower crushing, with 565,000 tons processed. Over the first four months, crushing reached 1.774 million tons, a 39% increase compared to the same period last year. This heightened industrialization has also boosted raw material purchases, with acquisitions for the 2024/25 campaign up 38% from the previous cycle.

Investment is another key indicator of the sector's vitality. This year marked the operational start of an expansion at Molinos Agro's plant in San Lorenzo, Santa Fe, a $12 million project increasing annual crushing capacity to 500,000 tons. Furthermore, Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) announced a $400 million investment to build a new sunflower and soybean processing plant in Bahía Blanca, designed to process 4,000 tons daily and integrate with its existing logistics and port infrastructure. Asagir noted that these significant business commitments are being made even with existing export taxes, underscoring the sector's robust potential and business confidence.

These productive bets demonstrate the commitment of the business community.

— AsagirThe Argentine Sunflower Association commented on the significant investments being made in the sector.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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