From its sprawling golden fields of wheat and soy to the sizzling grills of world-renowned steakhouses, Argentina’s food industry is a powerhouse of epic production, feeding the nation and the world.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Argentina produced 50.3 million metric tons of soybeans, making it the world's third-largest producer after Brazil and the United States
- Wheat production in Argentina reached 21.5 million metric tons in the 2022/23 marketing year, up 78% from the previous year due to favorable weather conditions
- Corn output totaled 52 million metric tons in 2022/23, positioning Argentina as the fourth-largest global corn producer
- In 2022, Argentina slaughtered 12.5 million cattle heads, producing 3.2 million tons of beef carcass weight
- Pork production reached 0.48 million tons in 2022, up 5% with 5.2 million heads slaughtered
- Poultry meat output totaled 2.1 million tons in 2022, from 520 million birds processed
- Argentina's food processing industry generated ARS 4.5 trillion in revenue in 2022, employing 250,000 people directly
- Meat processing plants numbered 1,200 in 2022, processing 85% of total beef production
- Dairy processing capacity exceeded 12 million liters per day in 2022, utilization at 75%
- Argentina exported $12.5 billion worth of food products in 2022, led by soybean meal and corn
- Beef exports valued $3.2 billion in 2022, with 920,000 tons shipped to 120 countries
- Soybean meal exports reached 28.5 million tons worth $11.8 billion in 2022
- Argentina imported $8.7 billion in food-related products in 2022, mainly wheat and dairy inputs
- Wheat imports totaled 2.5 million tons in 2022 due to domestic shortages
- Soybean imports were minimal at 0.1 million tons, mostly for processing
Argentina's food industry produces massive agricultural output and diverse processed exports.
Crop Production
- In 2022, Argentina produced 50.3 million metric tons of soybeans, making it the world's third-largest producer after Brazil and the United States
- Wheat production in Argentina reached 21.5 million metric tons in the 2022/23 marketing year, up 78% from the previous year due to favorable weather conditions
- Corn output totaled 52 million metric tons in 2022/23, positioning Argentina as the fourth-largest global corn producer
- Sunflower seed production was 3.7 million metric tons in 2022/23, with yields averaging 1.8 tons per hectare across 2 million hectares planted
- Barley production hit 5.2 million metric tons in 2022/23, primarily for malting and export to Brazil
- Sorghum production reached 3.8 million metric tons in 2022/23, used mainly for animal feed with 80% from the northern provinces
- Argentina's soybean harvested area expanded to 17.2 million hectares in 2022/23, representing 45% of total cropland
- Average soybean yield in Argentina was 2.92 tons per hectare in 2022/23, boosted by biotech varieties covering 99% of plantings
- Wheat planted area was 6.8 million hectares in 2022/23, with 70% in the Pampas region
- Corn yield averaged 8.2 tons per hectare in 2022/23, highest in a decade due to improved genetics and no major droughts
- Argentina produced 4.1 million tons of soybean meal in 2022, accounting for 7% of global supply
- Rapeseed production totaled 0.8 million metric tons in 2022/23 from 0.45 million hectares
- Peanut production reached 0.95 million tons in 2022/23, with Córdoba province contributing 60%
- Sugar cane crushed volume was 28 million tons in 2022/23, yielding 1.8 million tons of sugar
- Rice production hit 1.1 million tons in 2022/23, mainly from Entre Ríos and Corrientes provinces
- Argentina's total grain production exceeded 140 million tons in 2022/23, a record high
- Oats production was 0.45 million tons from 0.25 million hectares in 2022/23
- Linseed output reached 0.12 million tons in 2022/23, used for oil extraction
- Chickpea production totaled 0.25 million tons in 2022/23 from Córdoba and central regions
- Potato production was 3.2 million tons in 2022, with Buenos Aires producing 40%
- Cotton production reached 0.28 million tons of fiber in 2022/23
- Tobacco leaf production was 55,000 tons in 2022, down 10% due to lower prices
- Apple production totaled 0.52 million tons in 2022, Río Negro valley contributing 80%
- Grape production for wine was 2.2 million tons in 2022/23
- Lemon production reached 1.1 million tons in 2022, Tucumán province leading
- Tomato production was 1.05 million tons in 2022, mostly for processing
- Onion output hit 0.95 million tons in 2022, Mendoza and San Juan key areas
- Argentina's biotech crop adoption rate was 99% for soybeans, 98% for corn in 2022
- Total cropland area in Argentina spanned 35 million hectares in 2022/23
Crop Production Interpretation
Argentina's agricultural prowess is a lesson in serious business, proving the nation can simultaneously feed its cows, the world's beer, and still have enough lemons to make a global ceviche, all while farming an area the size of Germany with near-universal scientific precision.
Domestic Market
- Argentina's domestic food market size was $120 billion in 2022, growing 45% nominally
- Per capita food consumption averaged 1,200 kg annually in 2022, highest in South America
- Beef consumption per capita was 52 kg in 2022, down from historical 70 kg
- Household food expenditure represented 25% of total spending in 2022
- Soft drink consumption totaled 85 liters per capita in 2022
- Wine consumption per capita reached 25 liters in 2022
- Dairy consumption averaged 220 kg per capita, milk 170 liters in 2022
- Bread and bakery products consumed 85 kg per capita in 2022
- Poultry consumption per capita hit 45 kg in 2022, surpassing beef
- Pasta consumption was 25 kg per capita dry weight in 2022
- Edible oil consumption totaled 22 liters per capita in 2022, sunflower dominant
- Sugar consumption averaged 45 kg per capita in 2022
- Processed meat products market grew to ARS 1.2 trillion in 2022
- Supermarket food sales share was 65% of retail in 2022
- Organic food market size reached $500 million in 2022, 5% growth
- Fast food outlets numbered 8,500 in 2022, sales ARS 800 billion
- Ice cream consumption per capita 8 kg in 2022
- Snack consumption grew 18% to 12 kg per capita in 2022
Domestic Market Interpretation
Argentina's domestic food market, a beefy $120 billion affair where households spend a quarter of their budget, showcases a nation still deeply rooted in dairy, bread, and wine, yet is curiously being nudged off its historical throne by poultry and plagued by a soda-and-snack-fueled identity crisis.
Exports
- Argentina exported $12.5 billion worth of food products in 2022, led by soybean meal and corn
- Beef exports valued $3.2 billion in 2022, with 920,000 tons shipped to 120 countries
- Soybean meal exports reached 28.5 million tons worth $11.8 billion in 2022
- Corn exports totaled 45 million tons valued at $12.1 billion in 2022
- Wheat exports were 11.2 million tons worth $3.6 billion in 2022
- Sunflower oil exports hit 4.2 million tons valued at $4.5 billion in 2022
- Wine exports reached 1.3 million hectoliters worth $1.1 billion in 2022
- Biodiesel exports from soy totaled 2.8 million tons worth $2.2 billion in 2022
- Lemon exports were 0.32 million tons valued at $450 million in 2022
- Frozen beef exports to China accounted for 75% of total beef shipments in 2022
- Peanut exports reached 0.45 million tons worth $800 million in 2022
- Dairy exports totaled $1.2 billion in 2022, powdered milk leading
- Pork exports to Asia grew 20% to $150 million in 2022
- Poultry exports to Middle East valued $300 million in 2022
- Honey exports were 75,000 tons worth $350 million in 2022
- Argentina's food exports represented 55% of total merchandise exports in 2022
- Soybean oil exports totaled 3.1 million tons in 2022
- Flour exports reached 0.25 million tons in 2022
- Apple exports were 0.12 million tons worth $120 million in 2022
Exports Interpretation
Argentina's farm fields have quietly become a global supermarket, powering over half the country's exports with everything from beef to biodiesel, proving that feeding the world is serious, and seriously lucrative, business.
Food Processing
- Argentina's food processing industry generated ARS 4.5 trillion in revenue in 2022, employing 250,000 people directly
- Meat processing plants numbered 1,200 in 2022, processing 85% of total beef production
- Dairy processing capacity exceeded 12 million liters per day in 2022, utilization at 75%
- Edible oil crushing capacity was 140,000 tons per day in 2022, operating at 90%
- Flour milling industry produced 4.8 million tons of wheat flour in 2022 from 250 mills
- Sugar refining output was 1.9 million tons in 2022/23, with 80% exported as raw sugar
- Pasta production totaled 1.2 million tons in 2022, 70% dry pasta consumed domestically
- Bakery products output reached 3.5 million tons in 2022, with bread accounting for 60%
- Beverage industry produced 1.8 billion liters of soft drinks in 2022
- Wine bottling volume was 1.05 billion liters in 2022, 65% for domestic market
- Canned goods production hit 0.85 million tons in 2022, fruits and vegetables 50%
- Frozen food processing grew 15% to ARS 250 billion in sales in 2022
- Snack food production was 0.45 million tons in 2022, potato chips leading
- Chocolate and confectionery output totaled 0.28 million tons in 2022
- Ice cream production reached 0.32 million tons in 2022, summer peak demand
- Juice processing volume was 0.95 million tons of fruit in 2022
Food Processing Interpretation
Argentina’s food industry is a towering economic engine, butchering, milling, and bottling its way to prosperity, but with a national appetite so hearty it keeps half the nation's pasta dry and the other half constantly reaching for a cold glass of wine.
Imports
- Argentina imported $8.7 billion in food-related products in 2022, mainly wheat and dairy inputs
- Wheat imports totaled 2.5 million tons in 2022 due to domestic shortages
- Soybean imports were minimal at 0.1 million tons, mostly for processing
- Dairy product imports reached $1.2 billion, including cheeses and butter
- Vegetable oils imports were 0.8 million tons valued at $1.1 billion in 2022
- Sugar imports negligible, under 50,000 tons in 2022
- Rice imports totaled 0.15 million tons in 2022
- Processed foods imports grew 10% to $2.5 billion in 2022
- Corn imports were low at 0.2 million tons for seed and specialty
- Beef imports minimal, 10,000 tons for re-export processing in 2022
- Poultry meat imports reached 50,000 tons, halal certified
- Wine imports totaled 15 million liters worth $80 million in 2022
- Fruit juice concentrates imports 0.12 million tons in 2022
- Food additives and ingredients imports valued $1.8 billion in 2022
- Packaged food imports up 12% to $900 million in 2022
Imports Interpretation
Argentina's larder tells a tale of two economies: a farming giant that still needs to shop abroad for its daily bread, its butter, and even the building blocks of its own food industry, revealing a surprising dependency in the land of plenty.
Livestock Production
- In 2022, Argentina slaughtered 12.5 million cattle heads, producing 3.2 million tons of beef carcass weight
- Pork production reached 0.48 million tons in 2022, up 5% with 5.2 million heads slaughtered
- Poultry meat output totaled 2.1 million tons in 2022, from 520 million birds processed
- Milk production was 11.3 million tons in 2022, averaging 5,600 liters per cow annually
- Sheep meat production hit 0.12 million tons from 2.5 million heads in 2022, Patagonia dominant
- Wool production totaled 45,000 tons in 2022, with average fleece weight of 4.5 kg
- Honey production reached 110,000 tons in 2022, making Argentina the world's top exporter
- Egg production was 3.6 billion units in 2022, from 50 million laying hens
- Cattle herd size stood at 53.5 million heads in 2022, with 14 million cows
- Pig herd totaled 9.8 million heads in 2022, 60% in Buenos Aires province
- Broiler chicken production cycle averaged 42 days with 2.4 kg live weight in 2022
- Dairy cow population was 2.1 million heads in 2022, 80% Holstein breed
- Sheep flock numbered 13.5 million in 2022, mostly in Chubut and Santa Cruz
- Beef export volume was 920,000 tons in 2022, 29% of production
- Pork exports reached 25,000 tons in 2022, mainly to China
- Poultry exports totaled 285,000 tons in 2022, 14% growth
- Cheese production was 0.32 million tons in 2022, with 45% fresh cheese
- Butter output hit 0.12 million tons in 2022
Livestock Production Interpretation
Argentina is a carnivorous behemoth with a serious sweet tooth, where the cattle outnumber the people and the chickens outnumber everything, all while dutifully milking, shearing, and honey-making its way to the top of the world's export charts.
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